Section 4: Specific Illnesses and Diseases Chapter 19: Ear, Nose, Throat, (Eyes, Mouth) Kapha: Ghee is applied to the affected area. Tridoßha: All three doßha symptoms are expe- Persons should eat barley gruel and sesame seeds rienced. or paste, followed by vomiting. Then Kapha-re- ducing measures are used. Oil cooked with balá, TB: Painful upon speaking; hot fumes emit viæa´ga, pippalí, tulsí, kút, vásák, elá and black from the mouth. There is no therapy for this type pepper are used as nasal drops. Herbs of chamo- of hoarseness. mile, a¤hwagandhá, vásák, viæa´ga and harítakí are smoked. Over Weight: Kapha symptoms, some difficul- ty speaking. There is no therapy for this type of Tridoßha: Ghee cooked with bitter and pungent hoarseness. herbs is ingested; herbal smoke (dhúma), as for Kapha catarrh (e.g., viæa´ga, vásák) is used; pun- Therapies: gent foods are eaten. Nasal therapy and gargling All forms of TB are caused by simultaneous de- use sesame oil cooked with musta, bráhmí, car- rangement of all three doßhas. Depending upon damom, pippalí, vachá, kaóuká, pippalí, myrrh. one’s strength, the predominant doßha aggravat- Váyu-reducing herbs are cooked in milk and wa- ing the condition, and the stage of development, ter (twice as much water as milk) and cooked to the appropriate therapies are applied. There a two half the amount. Then ghee, cane sugar, licorice, general therapeutic categories: the specific and and red sandalwood are added. This mixture is general. Specific disorders include colds, head- also used as a nasal therapy—4, 6, or 8 drops are ache, and difficulty breathing. All seven of the put into each nostril. weakened tissue elements must be balanced to promote general healing. Chronic Coryza (Dußhóha Prati¤hyáya): The Alleviation Therapies These therapies include smoke of roasted gram flour and ghee is in- ghee, sesame oil, lemon and lime, pippalí, vásák, haled. When the nose is dry, an oil snuff is made dúrba, nágke¤har, black salt, and ámalakí eaten from sesame oil, goat’s milk (made into paste), hot, with foods such as thick or thin gruel (bar- da¤hmúl decoction and 10 times as much licorice ley, rice, or wheat, depending upon doßha and and rock salt. Aòu taila is another good oil for the strength). External therapies include fomentation, this condition. Therapies to reduce all doßhas are massage, aromatherapy, sprinkling, bath,) and required. blood-letting. Hoarse Voice (Svara-bedha) Colds/Rhinitis (Pínasa) are healed with chitrak, harítakí, and triphalá. Cause Hoarseness may result from Váyu, Pitta, Kapha, Tridoßha, TB, or excess weight. Fomentation: Applied over the throat, chest (and the sides of the chest), and head, using thick Symptoms: gruel or pudding made with boiled milk, barley, Váyu: The throat is dry, harsh, unsteady and da¤hmúl, oil, and ghee. For headache or pain in thorny. Relief comes from oily and warm foods the chest, sides, or shoulders, a thick hot ointment and liquids. is applied using calamus, guggul, punarnavá, Pitta: Burning sensation and dryness of the pal- ¤hatávarí, sandalwood, vidárí kand, balá, vásák, ate and throat, inability to speak. cardamom, ghee, and oil. For these conditions, aromatherapy, sneha—sandalwood oil massage, and medicated enemas are useful after meals. Kapha: The throat feels coated, voice is slow, Water Sprinkling (Ekánga dhárá or Parißheka husky, and obstructed. sveda): Water boiled with balá, guæúchí, ahwa- gandhá, ¤hatávarí, sandalwood, barley, and hon- 433
The Áyurveda Encyclopedia ey are poured over the head when the mixture be- Diarrhea: People with TB have weak diges- comes lukewarm. tive fire, causing diarrhea, mucus, bad taste in the mouth, and loss of appetite. Therapies in- Elimination Therapies: First, oleation and fo- clude thick barley gruel with bilwa, kuþaj, ginger, mentation therapies are undergone, then mild í¤habgol, or ámalakí, arjuna, gokßhura, ghee, and emetics and purgation. As with all therapies, múng flour, mixed as a drink. physical strength and health must be considered. Therapies should neither deplete nor causing di- Bad Taste in Mouth: Brush teeth morning and arrhea. evening. Chew herbs of cardamom, turmeric, musta, ámalakí, pippalí, and coriander to remove Persons who have extensive depletion of the bad tastes. They may be mixed with sesame oil, dhátus must not undergo elimination therapy. ghee, honey milk, and sugar cane, and kept in the Solely the heat-producing properties of the feces (purísha mala) sustains life. All the digestive fires mouth as a thin paste. Herbs include cardamom, of the dhátus are weakened; only the main diges- khadir, and majuphal. tive fire is active. Miscellaneous Therapies: Oil massage, wear- General: Ghee boiled with balá, da¤hmúl, tur- ing new clothes, taking medicated baths, medicat- meric, milk, sitopaladi, and eating after meals. ed enema, using pleasant aromas, soothing mu- These therapies are useful for cough, throat disor- sic, good company, meditation, prayer, donating, ders, difficult breathing, and pain in the shoulders celibacy, truthfulness, having good conduct, and and sides of the chest, and headache. nonviolent activities, words, and thoughts. Other therapies include drinking goat’s milk and staying Cough: Nasal oils and aromatherapy herbs in- in a pine forest. A parallel in Western medicine clude balá, vidárí kand, vásák, a¤hwagandhá, and was the use of sanitariums for healing and recu- chyavan prá¤h. peration. Throat: Aromatherapy with ghee, pippalí, balá, kaychant, licorice, small cardamom seeds, and milk. Burning, fever, upper body bleeding: Vásák, ¤hatávarí, dúrba, nágke¤har, and ghee, grapes. Care should be taken to follow therapies for the appropriate stage of fever ( see Chapter 14 for fe- vers). Excess Phlegm: If persons are not too weak, and predominantly of Kapha constitution, therapies may include boiled milk with pippalí, apámárga, cardamom, tulsí, and vásák. Another useful ther- apy is thick barley gruel boiled with emetic herbs and ghee. Váyu causes excessive phlegm, so oily and hot therapies are necessary. Vomiting: When phlegm results from excess Váyu and Kapha, Váyu-reducing foods and herbs (e.g., black pepper, ajwan, ginger, honey), and ar- juna for the heart are taken. 434
Section 4: Specific Illnesses and Diseases Chapter 19: Ear, Nose, Throat, (Eyes, Mouth) Eye Diseases Iris Pupil (Aupadravikam Adhyayam) Eyeball (Nayana-Budbuda): Chorid Ciliary Muscle (muscle/mámsa) The eyeball consists of all five elements. Earth Chorid Veins (bhu) forms the muscles. Fire (tejas) forms the Ciliary Nerve and Nerves blood in the veins and arteries. Air (Váyu) forms Nerve the iris and the pupil. Water (jala) forms the cor- Vein nea. Ether (akáßha) forms the ducts or sacs that Optic Nerve discharge secretions. Rasa and alochak Pitta support the anterior Lachrymal coat (retina). Muscle (máåsa) supports the cho- Glands rid or second coat. Fat tissue (medas) supports the third or scleroid coat and cornea. There are many Ducts Puncta lachrymalia divisions and subdivisions of these coats. Lacrimal Sac Blood vessels, muscles, vitreous body and the choroid hold together the various parts of the eye- Nasal Duct ball. The eyeball itself is held by a watery sub- stance, the capsule of tenon, which is supported by various vessels. When excessed doßhas pass upward into the eyes through the veins and nerves, many diseases are caused. Cornea Pupil Causes: Local doßhas become imbalanced from CAhnatmerbioerr Iris submerging the head in water immediately after Posterior Zonules exposure to heat and constant glaring at the sun, Chamber Ciliary straining to see objects far away, taking naps, Conjunctiva Lens Body staying up late, forced staring, excessive crying, grief, worry, fatigue, being hit or bumped, exces- Lateral Vitreous Medial Rectus sive sex, overeating or drinking, suppressing the RMeucstculse Chamber Muscle natural urges, smoke, dust or sweat entering the eyes, excessive or blocked vomiting (i.e., pres- Retina sure), and constant squinting to see tiny objects. Macula Chorid coat (layer) There are 76 forms of eye disease: 10 Váyu, 12 Nerve Sheath Sclerotic Layer (coat) Pitta and 13 Kapha, 16 forms related to excesses or toxic blood, 25 from tridoßhic causes, and 2 Left Eye Optic Nerve resulting from external trauma. Canal for central artery Premonitory Signs: Cloudy vision, slight in- flammation, tear secretion, accumulated mucus, heaviness, burning, aching, and red eyes. Eyelid inflammation causes feelings of bristles Development and Symptoms: studded in the eyes, pricking pain, and impaired Váyu: Five Váyu disorders are healable, anyato- sight (seeing colors with the eyes opened or Váyu, ophthalmia (adhi-mantha), ¤hußhkákßhi- closed). páka, abhißhyanda, and maruta-paryaya. Váyu cataracts can only be temporarily healed. The oth- 435
The Áyurveda Encyclopedia er four diseases cannot be healed. Three of these Locations: Of the 26 diseases, 9 affect the joints, disorders affect vision (hatá-dhimantha, nimißha, 21 the eyelids, 11 the vitreous humor, 4 the cho- gam-bhiriká), and one afflicts the sclerotic coat roid, 17 the entire eyeball region, and 12 the pupil (Váyu-hatavartma). or crystalline lens. The two external diseases af- fect the entire eyeball. Pitta: Seven Pitta eye diseases can be healed (abhißhynda, ophthalmia/adhi-mantha, am-ládhy- General Therapies: ußhita, súktiká, Pitta-vidagdha-drißhti, pothaki, All types of eye disease discussed in this chap- also known as gramulocyte tracoma, and lagana). ter can be helped with any of the following; Three can only be prevented from getting worse 1. Triphalá, sarsaparilla and turmeric (kácha, parimláyi, nila). Two disorders cannot be 2. Barberry and raw honey, or just raw honey healed (hrasva-jádya, jala-sráva). 3. Punarnavá decoction with rose water 4. Chandrodaya varti Kapha: Eleven disorders can be healed (conjunc- 5. Triphalá ghee tivitis (abhißhyanda), cataracts (adhi-man-tha), 6. Pravál pißhti balása-granthita, ¤hleshma-vidagdha-drißhti, po- 7. Saptamrita loha (iron ash) thaki, lagana, krimi-granthi, parik-linna-vartma, ¤huklárma, pißhtaka, ¤hleßhmo-panáha (healed by excision). Only Kapha cataracts (Kapha Ká- cha) are containable. Sráva-roga is incurable. Blood: Twelve forms are healable (cataract/ Joint and Binding Membrane adhi-mantha, abißhyanda, klißhta-vartma, sira- (Sandhigata- Roga -Vijñaniya) harßha and siropáta, anjana, sirajála, parvani, non-ulcerated avrana, ßhukraroga (corneal cal- Development, Symptoms, Therapies: There are cification), ¤honitárma, arjuna). Kácha cataracts 9 related diseases. These include symptoms of are only pacifiable. Five are incurable (raktasrá- Váyu, Pitta and Kapha diseases, and are the pre- va, ajakájata, pendent/avalambita, ¤honi-tárßhas, monitory symptoms of eye diseases. ¤hukraroga [If the third sclerotic layer is affected then it is incurable]. When the first and second 1. Puyálasa: A pus-filled swelling that develops sclerotic layer are affected, they are difficult to at any joint and is malodorous and dense (some heal. say it is painful and without pus). It is treated with blood-letting. After oil and fomentation around Tridoßha: Eighteen diseases cannot be healed the affected area, blood-letting is performed, fol- (vartmávabandha, sirája-pidaká, prastáryarma, lowed by a poultice of myrrh. adhi-mánsárma, snayvarma, utsangini, puyá- lasa, arvuda, ¤hyáva-vartma, kardama-vartma, 2. Upangha: A large painless cyst at the union arßhovartma, ¤hukráßhas, ¤harkará-vartma, two of the pupil and choroid (K^ißhòa-mandala) [see inflammations without local swelling/ saßho- diagram 2], with itching and a little pus. This is pha-páka and aßhopha-páka, bahala-vartma, caused by Kapha. The affected area is opened kum-bhiká, and visa-vartma). Two disorders and rubbed with pippalí and honey. Then the sur- are controllable (kácha-cataract [palliative] and rounding area is scraped. Before pus forms, oil pakßh-makopa). Four diseases cannot be healed and light fomentation therapy is used. (puya-sráva, nakulándhya, akßhipáká- tyaya, al- 3-6. Sráva: Deranged Pitta, Kapha or blood, pass- aji). ing through the lachrymal ducts into the binding tissues of the four joints produces a painless se- External: Both forms are incurable; sanimitta/ cretion with symptoms of the excessed doßha. external blow, and animitta/seeing the sudden Four forms exist: light of a celestial being. 436
Section 4: Specific Illnesses and Diseases Chapter 19: Ear, Nose, Throat, (Eyes, Mouth) a) Puyá-sráva—A pus-filled swelling at any eye cludes amritahwardivarti (guæúchí, lotus stem, joint where the pus is secreted. This results from bilwa, paóola, licorice, prapaundaríka, cedar, Kapha, Pitta, and blood. Rock salt and honey heal and sarsaparilla. A quantity of 320 gms of these this disease. herbs is made into a decoction, then strained and reheated until thick. Then 10 gms of white pepper b) £hleshmá-sráva—A thick, slimy, white se- and 40 gms fresh jasmine flowers are added until cretion of mucus and pus, without pain. Rock salt the decoction becomes sticky. Then one drop is and honey heal this disorder. placed in the eye. It can also be treated with scari- fication. c) Raktá-sráva—A copious, thin, warm and blood-streaked secretion. It results from toxic 2. Kumbhika (internal stye-hordeolum cyst): blood at that location. Rock salt and honey heal Resulting from all three doßhas, many boils or this condition. pimples develop on the joint of the eyelids and lashes, burst and then become inflamed. This is d) Pitta-sráva—A warm, watery, yellow-blue healed with chitranjan (1.25 gms black pepper, (or reddish yellow) secretion from the middle part 5 gms samudraphena (cuttle-fish bone) and 1.25 of the joint results from excess Pitta. Rock salt gms lead sulfide are pounded finely during Citra and honey heal this malady. constellation (a Vedic astrology/Jyotißh mystical star) It can also be treated by scarification. A gen- 7) Parvani: A small, round coppery swelling at eral treatment includes placing one drop of honey the joint of the choroid (K^ißhòa-mandala) and in the eye. sclerotic coat (¤hukla-mandala) due to deranged local blood, with burning and aching. Rock salt 3. Pothaki (trachoma/granular conjunctivitis): and honey heals this disorder. Many red, hard boils or pimples (such as red mus- tard seeds), that are painful, itchy, and secreting. 8) Alaki: A similar swelling that occurs at the Honey or barberry is used to heal this condition. same place, but it is larger. Rock salt and honey or It can also be treated by scarification. rose water are used to heal this ailment. 4. Vartma-¤harkará (infection of meibomian 9) Krimi-granthi: A cyst or swelling with itch- gland/trachoma): Rough large pimples surround- ing, appearing where the eyelids and lashes meet, ed by very small and thick pustules (that cover the resulting from parasitical germination. The para- entire length of the eyelid). Chandro-daya varti is sites infect the inner lining of the eyelid where it used to heal this disorder. Scarification may also is connected with the sclerotic coat, invading and be used. weakening the eyeball. After fomentation and in- cision, a decoction of triphalá and myrrh is used 5. Arßho-vartma (papillary trachoma): Small, on the affected area. soft, rough pimples on the eyelid, with little pain. Chandrodaya varti (¤ha´k bhasma (conch shell Eyelids (Vartmagata-Roga-Vijñániya) ash), bibhítakí, harítakí, lead sulfate, black pep- per, all mixed in equal quantities). Then goat’s Development, Symptoms, Therapies: The milk is mixed with the chandrodaya varti until it doßhas, either alone or in combination, expand becomes a paste. The paste is then rolled into a through the nerves and veins of the eyelids (vart- cylindrical form with a diameter of about 1/12 of ma), causing excess blood and fleshy growth. This an inch. This rod is dipped in water briefly, then causes excess fleshy growth that is responsible for applied to the eye. It can also be treated by scari- 21 diseases of the eyelids. fication. 1. Utsangini (conjunctival cyst): A rolled or in- 6. £hußhkárßhas (chronic papillary trachoma or dented boil or pimple appears on the outer lower a form of tumors): Long, rough, hard numb pim- eyelid, with its head pointed inward. Therapy in- ples on the eyelid. Rasáñjana (Berberis aristata 437
The Áyurveda Encyclopedia DC extract) is used to heal this malady. Scarifica- eye washes, salves, drops, snuffs, and aromather- tion can also be used. apy are used. Herbs include musta, turmeric, lico- rice, punarnavá, triphalá, vaµ¤ha lochana, with 7. Anjana (external stye-hordeolum cyst): Small honey. Myrrh and white pepper applied as a slave soft, coppery pimples on the eyelid, with burning, alleviates itching of the eye. pricking, and slight pain. It is treated by excision. After fomentation, a spontaneous bursting may Itching: One application of an eye salve of occur. This requires pressing and rubbing with a black salt, white pepper, red sandalwood, sugar plaster of jasmine, cardamom, and myrrh mixed cane root, barberry, cedar, white salt, and chamelí with honey. leaf in equal parts. 8. Bahala-vartma (multiple chalazion): Equal- Swelling (¤hopha): Musta, cedar, triphalá, pu- sized pimples that are hard, along the eyelid, and narnavá, lodhra, are pasted together as an eye of similar shape and color. Nílathotha (crude cop- salve. per sulfate), lead sulfite, small elá and pawchi with honey. It can also be treated by scarification. 14.Aklinna-vartma (ankylo belpharon): The eyelids stick together without any pus or secre- 9. Vartma-bandha: Eyelid edema with itching tion (even if the eyes are constantly washed with and slight pain, preventing opening of the lids. Ní- water. Surgery is contraindicated. lathotha (crude copper sulfate or copper acetate, or basic copper acetate), lead sulfite, small elá, 15.Vátáhata-vartma (lagophthalmos): Droop- and pawchi with honey. ing or inactivity of the eyelids, with or without pain, obstructing the opening of the eye lashes. 10. Klißhta-vartma (angio-neurotic edema): The lids seem to be out of joint. It is treated by Mild, coppery inflamed swellings of both eye- scarification. Pitta causes this disorder. Therapies lids (simultaneously), with slight pain, suddenly include triphalá pasted with water and applied on becoming red or discharging blood. Punarnavá, the eyelids, or pippalí and olive oil paste on the triphalá, and rock salt mixed with honey are rec- eyelids. ommended. Scarification may also be used. 16. Arvuda (eyelid tumor or angiomas): An un- 11. Kardama-vartma (non-ulcerative blephari- even, red, knotty swelling or shape which quickly tis): When the previous disorder (klißhta) is affect- grows on the inside of the eyelid, with little pain. ed by Pitta. Inflammation of the lid margin with Herbal therapies include pippalí and olive oil redness develops. Further, the area can become paste on the eyelids. Triphalá pasted with water thick, forming scales and crust, shallow marginal can also be used. It is also treated by incision. ulcers or discharge dirty blood and mucus. Honey or barberry heals this condition. Alternatively, it 17. Nimeßha (ptosis): Wrinkling of the eyelids is treated by scarification. 12. £hyáva-vartma (ul- due to excess Váyu in the nerves or veins. cerative blepharitis): A dark brown coloration of the eyelids, both internally and externally, with 18. Shonitárßhas (internal hemorrhage): Soft, swelling, pus secretion, and itching. Therapy in- fleshy growths on the eyelids, which reappear cludes red sphatik (alum), elá, and barberry with even after they are surgically removed. Pain and rose water. It can also be treated by scarification. burning are also present, resulting from excess blood. Useful herbs include triphalá, guæúchí, 13. Praklinna-vartma: The outer eyelid swells ámalakí, turmeric, and licorice. (edema) with mucus deposits in the inner surface, with little pain, secretion, itching, and pricking. 19. Lagaòa or Nagana (chalazion cyst): A Surgery is contraindicated. Oil, fomentation, ve- thick, hard, slimy, painless nodular swelling on nesection, purgation, nasal evacuatives and non oil the eyelid, with itching and no pus or secretion. It enemas are required to cleanse the system. Then is treated by excision. 438
Section 4: Specific Illnesses and Diseases Chapter 19: Ear, Nose, Throat, (Eyes, Mouth) After incision, vaå¤ha lochana or pippalí are 4. Adhi-mánsárma: A soft, thick, dark brown, mixed with honey and applied to the incised area. and extended fleshy growth on the cornea. This is Harítakí, ginger, black pepper, neem, vásák, and treated by incision. lodhra mixed together are also useful. Larger in- cisions require cauterization with alkali or fire. 5. Snáyvarma: A rough, yellowish or white This is caused by Kapha. fleshy growth on the white coat that slowly grows larger. This is treated with incision. 20. Visa-vartma: An inflamed swelling of the eyelid, dotted with tiny punctures or pores. It is 6. £huktiká (xerosis/xerotic Keratitis): Dark treated by excision. Useful herbs include red san- brown, fleshy or oyster colored specks on the dalwood, rose water, guæúchí, punarnavá, and white area of the eyeball). Surgery is contraindi- mamírá. It is caused by an excess of Kapha. cated. 21. Pakßhma-kopa (Eye Lashes—trichiasis dis- 7. Arjuna (ecchymosis kerato-conjunctivitis): A trichisis and entropion): Excessed doßhas accumu- single dot or speck on the cornea that is blood red. late around the eye lash, causing them to become Surgery is contraindicated. The same therapies rough and sharp pointed. This develops eye pain, apply as for Pitta abißhyanda. Sugar cane juice, which is relieved when the lash is pulled off. The honey, milk, turmeric, punarnavá, and licorice eye is sensitive to wind, heat, or the light of a fire. are used as an eye wash or salve. A triphalá de- Therapy can be palliative or provide temporary coction may also be used as eye drops. Turmeric, relief, if persons still have their sight. This disease barberry, guæúchí, bilwa, and licorice may also be cannot be healed, but it can be controlled. Herbs, used to wash the eyes. including bilwa, ¤hyonaka, patluppu, gambhari, arni, kaòþkárí, and the entire castor oil plant are 8. Pißhtaka (pinguecula): A white or transpar- made into a decoction and used to wash the eyes. ent, elevated, circular dot or speck on the white Surgery may also be indicated. coat. Surgery is contraindicated. A thin plaster of ginger, pippalí, musta, black and white pepper may be pasted together and used as a salve. Sclerotic Coat 9. Sirá-jala (scleritis): Large red patches of a (£huklagata-Roga-Vijñániya) hardened network of veins spreading over the sclerotic coat. It is also treated by incision. Development and Symptoms: Eleven diseases of the sclerotic coat exist. These are all caused by 10. Sirá-Pidaká (deep scleritis): A group of Kapha. All these conditions are helped by rock white pimples on the white coat, near the edge salt, triphalá, ginger, black pepper, and white of the iris, covered with shreds of veins. Therapy coral. The first five are known as pterygium. includes rasáñjan with honey. It is also treated by 1. Prastáíyarma: A thin, extended, reddish-blue incision. glandular swelling on the sclerotic coat. This is treated by incision. 11. Balása Grathita (conjunctivitis): A metal- colored speck, covered with veins on the white 2. £huklárma: A group of soft, white growths, coat. (Some say the speck appears like a drop developing over the entire sclerotic coat. This is of water.) Surgery is contraindicated. The eye is treated with incision. cleansed by bloodletting or by using herbs. The herbs include triphalá, punarnavá, nirguòæí, cha- 3. Lohitárma: A reddish fleshy growth on the melí, barberry, banyan tree (Váta-ala or ginger) cornea. This is treated with incision. bark (or juice), and rock salt. This is followed with the same therapies as Kapha ophthalmia. 439
The Áyurveda Encyclopedia Black part of the chorid and iris then done. A triphalá decoction is used as eye (Krishna-Gata- Roga-Vijñániya) wash and eye drops, nasal evacuatives, and Puta- páka are also applied. Development and Symptoms: Four diseases re- lated to this area exist. These are all forms of cal- Puta-páka: Triphalá and water are first mixed cifications of the cornea. into a paste. The paste is then pasted on the bot- tom side of two leaves of Jamum or Vat, and left in Savrana-£hukra (keratitis/corneal ulcer): A the sun to dry. After the eyes are cleansed, myrrh, puncture-like dip in the area, pricking sensation, ginger, pippalí, black pepper, viæa´ga, ghee, great pain, hot secretion. If the seat of the disor- honey, and milk are used as an eye salve. der is far from the pupil (marginal keratolysis), Ajaká (anterior staphyloma): A reddish pain- the entire retina has no pain or discharge, if it is ful growth rising from below the surface of the not deep-seated or without double spots, it can be black area, with red, slimy secretions. The watery healed. accumulation in the eye is drained by a needle puncture on either side of the cornea, and the hole Avrana-£hukra (corneal opacity): A whitish film filled with ghee. Chandrodaya varti with honey overlays the choroid region, including the iris, like is used for this condition. Scarifying or rubbing a speck of transparent cloud in the sky, tear secre- is frequently done if the punctured area becomes tion, slight pain due to ophthalmia (secretion). elevated. This is easily healed. When a non ulcerated form of this disease is thick, deep seated, and chronic, Disease Affecting the Entire Eye is difficult to heal. If it is a chronic situation which (Sarva-gata-Roga-Abhißhyandha/ is mobile, covered with fleshy shreds, full of veins Conjunctivitis) or stretching down to the second skin layer in the eye, it cannot be healed. Other unhealable symp- Development, Symptoms and Therapies: Sev- toms are obstructed vision, severed in the middle enteen forms of eye diseases affect the eye as a and with a reddish tint in the extremities. Some whole. Herbal therapies are useful when these authorities also say if spots are on the iris, with diseases are not severe. Only when conditions are pimples, and hot tear secretions, it also cannot be serious is venesection required. healed. This is a Kapha disorder. 1-4. Ophthalmia (Abißhyanda): Eye inflamma- Therapies- (for this milk-white fleshy growth in tion (four types) the eye): The non ulcerated form (a-vrana) fol- lows the above blood caused ophthalmia. Should a) Váyu—causes pricking eye pain, numb- these therapies not work, then scarifying is used. ness, irritation, roughness, dryness, restricted The ulcerated form (sa-vrana), be it in the first movement, cold tears, lack of secretions, and or second layers, or rough, one follows the same headache. First, a few drops of ghee are applied therapies. Scarifying (rubbing) myrrh, black pep- in the eye. Then the forehead, over the eye is fo- per, pippalí powders on the affected area, and mented. Next, local venesection is done. Other used as a salve is useful. useful therapies include, oil enema for cleansing, eye drops of triphalá, raw honey, ghee (tepid in Eyelid inflammation (Akßhi-Pákátyaya): A winter, cold in summer). Eight drops are used for milky white film over the black part of the eye, scarifying, 10 drops for lubricating, and 12 drops slowly covering it completely, (and some say) for healing. Aromatherapy (frankincense and san- with great pain. It is treated with venesection. dalwood), eye washes (triphalá), and nasal evacu- ative oils using ámalakí, and ¤hatávarí are also Akßhi pákátyaya (Akshi-Páká, Netra-páka): useful. Plasters of triphalá and licorice with milk (Inflammation of the entire eye.) Oil and fomen- tation is done for both swelling (sa-¤hopha) and non swelling (a-ßhopha) forms. Venesection is 440
Section 4: Specific Illnesses and Diseases Chapter 19: Ear, Nose, Throat, (Eyes, Mouth) are used as a collyrium for acute Váyu ophthal- 5-9. Adhimantha (acute glaucoma): All chronic mia. Punarnavá is also useful for all Váyu eye types must be quickly treated or excruciating eye diseases. Another recommendation is the mixture pain (as if the eye is being torn out) will develop. of pippalí, dhátakí flowers, rock salt, and 10-year- The pain extends upward to half the head, feeling old ghee. This is applied in the eye. as though it is crushing the head. Specific doßha symptoms also exist. b) Pitta—burning, inflammatory secretions, needing coldness in the eyes, excess hot secre- a) Váyu—cloudy eye, feeling as though it is be- tions, cloudy vision, yellow eyes. It is treated ing torn out and stirred, is irritating, piercing and with venesection. Bloodletting, purgatives (rhu- painful, with local fleshy swelling. The side of the barb, castor oil, triphalá), eye washes, plasters head with the affected eye develops symptoms of (around eyes), medicated nasal oils, eye salves, twisting, cracking, swelling, and shivering. It is and Pitta-Visarpa (erysipelas) therapies. Herbs treated with venesection (also see Váyu ophthal- include cardamom, lodhra, musta, cane sugar, mia therapies). dúrba, ghee, raw honey, red sandalwood, licorice, milk, turmeric, punarnavá, viæa´ga, cardamom. b) Pitta—blood-streaked eye, secretions, burn- Depending upon the consistency, liquid or paste, ing sensation in the eye and head, swelling, per- they may be used as plasters, washes, salves, eye spiration, eye secretion, yellowed vision, fainting, drops, or taken internally. liver-colored eyes and feeling ulcerated. It is treat- ed with venesection (also see Pitta ophthalmia). c) Kapha—desiring warmth, heaviness, itching, swelling, excess whiteness, constant deposit and c) Kapha—swollen eyes, slight congestion (in- discharge of slimy mucus. It is treated with vene- flammation), cold, itching heavy secretions, slimy section. During acute aggravation when fomenta- deposits of mucus, slight clouding, dilated nos- tions does not help, the local vein is opened. Na- trils, headaches, objects are seen as dusty. It is sal drops using fresh herbs (avapida nasya), eye treated with venesection. See Kapha ophthalmia salves, aromatherapy, washes, plasters, gargles, therapies. puta-páka rukßha. Persons fast every 4 days on ghee cooked with arjuna, triphalá, musta, sandal- d) Blood—pricking pain and blood-streaked se- wood, turmeric, ¤hatávarí, and calamus taken in cretions of the eye, bright red eyes, unbearable to the morning. Lunch and dinner meals should not touch, objects seem as if on fire, eye extremities aggravate Kapha. become red, cornea (white coat of the eye) looks as if it is submerged in blood. It is treated with Mild fomentation with bilwa and triphalá is ap- venesection. See blood ophthalmia therapies. plied around the eye. A thin plaster of triphalá, ginger, cedar, lodhra, barberry root, and elá (car- If one does not follow a wholesome diet (ac- damom) is applied over the eyelid or entire eye. cording to the excessed doßha) blindness may oc- Triphalá, licorice, asafoetida, turmeric, licorice, cur (within 3 days for Pitta, 6 days for Váyu, 5 ginger, pippalí, black pepper, harítakí, viæa´ga, days for blood, and 7 days for Kapha). punarnavá, t^ikatu, musta, and white pepper are mixed with water into a paste and applied in the 10. Netra-páka: eye as a salve. a) Swelling (Sa-¤hopha)—itching, mucus deposits in the eye, teary secretions, redness, d) Blood—red eyes, coppery tears, deep red burning, coppery colored, heavy, pricking pain, stripes, Pitta symptoms. It is treated with vene- swelling, constantly secreting cold or hot slimy section. Ghee is taken internally and externally, discharges, eventually forming pus. It can only be therapies for blood/Pitta and Pitta visarpa are fol- treated with venesection. lowed, and a Pitta-reduction diet is required. b) Nonswelling (A-¤hopha)—the same symp- toms except swelling. It is treated with venesec- tion. Blood-purifying herbs and diuretics, such as 441
The Áyurveda Encyclopedia mañjißhþhá and gokßhura, respectively are use- pepper, sámudra phena (os sepiae or cuttlefish ful. bone), and phitkárí (alum, sulfate of alumina and potash or of aluminum and ammonium; alumi- 11. Blinding Eye Inflammation (Hatádhiman- nous sulfate) mixed with honey. Additional thera- tha): Excessed Váyu becomes caught in the optic pies include honey and ghee as an eye salve. It is nerve. This is incurable. also treated with venesection. 12. Váyu-Paryáya: Shifting pain in the eye 17. Sirá-harßha (orbital cellulitis): If sirotpáta lashes (or just the eyebrows and eyes). The same is not quickly treated, large amounts of transpar- measures as Váyu ophthalmia are used, including, ent and coppery eye secretions develop and cause ingesting large amounts of ghee before the meal blindness. Therapies include rhubarb, musta, and with da¤hmúl, t^ikatu, tagar, mañjißhþhá, barber- amalatas mixed with honey, and used as an eye ry, figs, kaòókárí, and musta. It may also be treated salve. with venesection. 13. £hußhká-kaßhi-páka: Eyelids become dry, It is also treated with venesection. hard, remain closed. Vision is cloudy and hazy vision. Great pain is experienced when open- Pupil Diseases ing the eyelids. Surgery is contraindicated. Ce- (Drißhti-gata-Roga-Vijnáñiya) dar, powered ginger, milk, and ghee are mixed and used as a collyrium. Ingesting ghee with Development and Symptoms: There are 12 dis- balá, ¤hatávarí and licorice, and dropping this eases of the pupils. One disease affects the coat- liquid in the eye is also useful. Alternatively, ing over the entire pupil. dry ginger and rock salt can be used internally or as eye drops. Nasal oil of bráhmí and tripha- 1st Pupil Coat (Patala): When the excessed lá ghee is helpful, as are eye washes of milk doßhas pass into the eye’s innermost coat through with black salt or milk cooked with cedar. the veins, objects appear dim and hazy. 14. Anyato-váyu: excessed Váyu in the head, ears, cheek bones, back of the neck, the nerves on either 2nd Pupil Coat: When excessed doßhas are side of the neck (the manyá marmas) causes great found in the second coat, false images appear be- pain in the eyes or eye brows. It is treated with ve- fore the eyes (of bugs, hair, nets, cobwebs, cir- nesection. The same measures as Váyu ophthal- cular patches, flags, and earrings), objects appear mia are used, including ingesting large amounts covered in mist, haze, as if underwater, or seen of ghee before the meal with a decoction of bilwa, through colored droplets falling in all directions. gámbhárí, sonapatta, paþola, ajwan, and sarsapa- rilla. This decoction is also used as an ointment. 3rd Pupil Coat: When the excessed doßhas reach the third coat, one only sees higher placed 15. Amládhyushita-Drißhti: Eating excessive objects, and cannot see objects below a certain amounts of acidic foods (or from acid indiges- level. If the crystalline lens is affected, objects re- tion) causes the eyes to swell and develop a blu- flect the colors of the lens. Objects seem covered ish red tint. Surgery is contraindicated. The same with cloth. One does not see ears, eyes, noses etc. therapies as Pitta ophthalmia are used, and tripha- on other people. When the doßhas affect the lower lá ghee. area of the crystalline lens blocks near vision, af- fecting the upper area causes distant blocking, and 16. Sirotpáta (hyperemia conjunctivitis): The excessed doßhas in the lateral areas blocks lateral veins throughout the eye become coppery, with vision. When the doßhas affect the entire lens, ob- or without pain. If not quickly attended to, copi- jects are seen as dim and confused. If the middle ous discharges of transparent and coppery color part of the lens is affected, objects appear to be cut develop, leading to complete blindness. Rasáñjan in two. When the doßhas are in two places, there is advised, i.e., barberry, vaµ¤ha lochana, white 442
Section 4: Specific Illnesses and Diseases Chapter 19: Ear, Nose, Throat, (Eyes, Mouth) is triple vision. A multi-image of objects develops If a lack of redness exists, and the disease in when the doßhas are all over the lens. only in the first coat, the disease is healable. When redness develops, and the second coat is affected, 4th Pupil Coat: Loss of vision (timira) results it is very difficult to heal. Should the third coat be from excessed doßhas being trapped in this area. affected, showing redness on the first coat, it is Superficial excesses only allow for the vision only controllable. of bright objects, whereas deep-seated excesses cause blindness. Váyu Blindness—objects appear cloudy, mov- ing, crooked and red. This cannot be healed. Ther- Six Healable Diseases apies include triphalá, ¤hatávarí, and sesame oil paste is eaten. Another therapy is ámalakí, rock All six healable diseases of the pupil and lens, salt, pippalí (in equal amounts), and a little black the local veins, loss of vision (timira), cataracts pepper. All these herbs are mixed and taken with (kácha), linga-náßha, Váyu, Pitta, Kapha, blood honey. Yogurt water may be taken as well. (rakta), tridoßha, and parimláyi are bled, persons are duly purged using ghee mixed with herbal Pitta Blindness—objects seem to be rainbow- purgatives. colored, like a flash of lightning, the feathers of a peacock or with a dark blue-black tint. Therapies Váyu symptoms of all six diseases: include triphalá ghee paste is eaten. Sarsaparilla, Castor oil with boiled milk is used as a purga- licorice, cane sugar, and honey are applied as an tive. ointment. Lodhra, elá, punarnavá mixed with Pitta/blood symptoms of all six diseases: honey can also be used as an ointment. Triphalá ghee is used as a purgative. Kapha Blindness—objects appear with a thick 1. Blindness (Timira): cloud-white coating in a dull, oily, hazy, or as Triphalá ghee is useful in all types of timira. though looking through water. This is a progres- Nasal evacuatives with sesame oil are also goo for sively developing cataract. Triphalá and honey all forms of this disease. are eaten. Sarsaparilla, dry ginger and dry molas- Váyu-caused blindness requires triphalá ses cakes are applied to the eyes. mixed with sesame oil. Kapha-caused Timira needs triphalá mixed with honey. Pitta-caused Blood Blindness—objects appear red, gray, therapy involves goat’s milk boiled with kákolí, black, or multicolored, or enveloped in gloom. kßhír kákolí, honey, licorice, and saraswat. Váyu Lodhra, triphalá, punarnavá, rose water applied doßhas use a decoction of a¤hwagandhá, bilwa, as a collyrium (black powder). Another therapy is and ¤hatávarí. Kapha doßhas inhale smoke of sandalwood, ¤hilájit, kesar, neem gum, and white viæa´ga, patta (corchorus capsularis), apámárga lotus, made into a collyrium. seed, and hingot bark powders. Also, an ointment of vat, pippalí, kákolí, turmeric, and fig tree bark Tridoßha Blindness—objects seem variegated (anjír) is useful. and confused with double or triple vision, with An eye salve using ghee, honey, salt, licorice is stars and planets appearing broken, or with addi- useful. Ingestibles for all causes of blindness in- tional armatures, and floating. Chandrodaya varti clude ghee, triphalá, ¤hatávarí, ámalakí, and bar- can probably heal this condition. Otherwise, it ley. Bloodletting is never used for this disease if cannot be healed. the eye is red as it will aggravate the condition. Pitta/Blood: (Parimláyi) The corners of the sky seem yellow and bright like a sunrise, trees ap- pear to sparkle with lights like fireflies. The same therapies as Pitta cataracts are used here. Should this not balance the doßhas, salves and nasal oils are also applied. 443
The Áyurveda Encyclopedia Cataract (Kácha) Therapy: This is a corneal cal- clude inhaled poisons) and toxicity in the blood. cification preventing persons from seeing. The pupil is sunken, pierced, or impaired. Tripha- lá ghee is advised in this condition. Váyu: Ghee, milk, and triphalá as an eye salve. Pitta: Ghee is used as nose oil and as a meal. 2. Animitta (undetermined origin): Loss of vision Triphalá is ingested. Puta-páka and an eye salve resulting from excessively bright lights, including of paþola patra, punarnavá, red sandalwood, bar- that of celestial beings. The eye is not outwardly berry, ámalakí, and lodhra. affected. Triphalá ghee or gámbhárí flower, lico- Kapha: Triphalá and sesame oil are cooked to- rice, lodhra, and barberry are suggested. gether and used as a nasal oil, aromatherapy us- ing viæa´ga, paþola patra, punarnavá, turmeric, Pupil and Crystalline Lens Therapies: Three of red sandalwood, ámalakí, and lodhra. Ghee and these diseases can be healed, three are incurable, honey are mixed with these honey. This mixture and six can only be controlled. The general thera- is applied to the eye as puta-páka. pies are again suggested. Tridoßha: Triphalá decoction and licorice are Pitta-Vidaghda-Drißhti: Pupils and objects ap- used as a salve, in puta-páka and as food. pear yellowish, persons only have night vision. It is caused by excess Pitta in the third coat. Surgery Linganáßha (cataract): Surgery is required. is contraindicated. All the therapies for Pitta (ex- Sometimes, therapies of barberry with honey, or cept surgery) are used here. Triphalá ghee is also chandrodaya varti with honey may be helpful. very good for this condition. Gambier flowers, licorice, lodhra, and barberry are also suggested. Váyu—reddish-looking pupils, circular patches that move around, and are rough to the touch. This Kapha-vidagha-drißhti: Kapha appearing over cannot be healed. the three parts of the lens, causing objects to be seen whitish and night blindness. Surgery is con- Pitta—blue, yellow-blue or metal-colored cir- traindicated. All the therapies for Kapha (except cular patches and pupils. This cannot be healed. surgical operations) are used here. Traivrita ghee is very good for this condition. Also, nirguòæí Kapha—whitish pupils circular patches are seed, elá, and pippalí, mixed with goat’s milk is thick, oily and white, looking like a drop of water. suggested. It moves when the eye is rubbed. This cannot be healed. For Pitta and Kapha vidagdha-drißhtis, eye salves are used with myrrh, pippalí, pepper, açho- Blood—blood-red pupils. ka, triphalá, and kapikachhú mixed with honey. Tridoßha—pupils are multicolored with symp- toms of the different doßhas. This cannot be healed. Pitta/Blood—a blue or yellow blue circular Kapha Vidhagha (night blindness): Myrrh, patch, looking like a blade of grass on the pupil. pippalí, ginger, licorice, triphalá, and balá are Occasional glimpses of light are possible. used on the eye and also ingested. A salve con- sisting of triphalá, myrrh, pippalí, and cardamom Two forms of linga-náßha due to trauma also ex- mixed with honey is also useful. ist. Surgery is contraindicated for these diseases. 1. Sanimitta (determined origin): Loss of sight resulting from overheating of the brain (causes in- 444
Section 4: Specific Illnesses and Diseases Chapter 19: Ear, Nose, Throat, (Eyes, Mouth) Dhúma-drißhti or Dhúma-darßhin Vißha-granthi: First fomentation is conducted, (Smoky vision): Objects seem dusty or smoky then holes are cut to remove swelling. This is fol- resulting from grief, high and prolonged fevers, lowed by dusting with myrrh and cardamom pow- straining, excessive physical exercise, or head in- der. Ghee and honey are applied over the dust and juries. Surgery is contraindicated. The same heal- a loose bandage is applied. ing therapies as Pitta ophthalmia are suggested. Ghee is taken internally and externally, therapies Upanáha: The area is opened and rubbed with for blood/Pitta and Pitta visarpa are followed. A pippalí and myrrh powders mixed with honey. It Pitta reduction diet is required. is then scraped, and the surrounding area is also gently scratched. Hrasva-Jatya (Day blindness): Cold weather Excisions: Only surgeons are qualified to per- causes a loss of Pitta that creates difficulty with form exicsions. Diseases requiring excision in- seeing small objects in the daytime that may eas- clude arman, sirá-jála, sirá-pidaká, parvaniká, ily be seen at night. A combination of myrrh, lico- and the inner eyelid. rice, triphalá, ghee, and honey is used as an eye salve. Nakulandhyatá: The pupil seems to emit lumi- £hukti-páka: (Inflammatory diseases, such as nous flashes and day vision appears multicolor. blepharitis, styes, conjunctivitis, etc.) The same This is treated similarly to night-blindness. therapies as Pitta ophthalmia are used, and tripha- lá ghee. An eye salve with cooling herbs (e.g., Gambhiriká (paralysis of the carrial nerve): musta, viæa´ga) is useful for lower eye disorders. Excess Váyu contracts the pupil and deforms it, causing it to sink in its socket . It is associated Arjun and Sulel: General therapies are used. with extreme pain. Eye Therapy Glossary Scarifying/Rubbing (Lekhana): Triphalá may be ingested and used as an eye- This therapy requires licensed medical care, and wash (after straining). Depending upon the doßha will not be discussed in detail here. Vartmá-va- responsible for the illness, herbs are used to re- bandha, klißhta-vartma, bahala-vartma, pothaki duce the doßha excess. eye diseases are gently scraped, then scarified. £hyáva-vartma and kardama-vartma diseases Soothing (tarpana): are moderately rubbed (neither too light nor too deep). Small, hard coppery pus pimples that may These remedies are used in the morning or af- arise from rubbing are cut. Small and slightly ternoon after nasal purgation, elimination of stool swollen pimples on the exterior eyelid surface are and digestion of the previous meal. (Technically, fomented and plastered. the planets should be auspiciously situated.) Per- Incisions: sons lie on a bed in a clean, draftless room where General: Before pus develops, oil and light fo- the sun does not get in their eyes. mentation are administered to the eye. Once pus has developed, ulcer-healing therapies are used. The eyelids are thickly coated with a paste of black gram and water and built as a circular wall to surround the eye. Ghee and tepid water are 445
The Áyurveda Encyclopedia poured within the wall, in the eye, up to the eye 2. Scraping—ghee with pravál pißhti or salt lashes (see Netra Basti in Chapter 7 page 244). (scraping properties), and are used for 1 min- Healthy Kapha-, Pitta-, and Váyu-imbalanced ute/45 seconds. persons should allow the ghee to remain in their eyes for 3 periods of time: 8 minutes/20 seconds, 3. Healing—ghee, milk, raw honey, and herbs 10 minutes, and 16 minutes/20 seconds respec- such as mañjißhþhá, barberry, turmeric, neem, tively. Other authorities suggest the length of re- chamelí, sandalwood, bilwa, ajwan, and onion. tention varies according to what part of the eye is These herbs are kept in the eye for 5 minutes. affected: sandhi—-five minutes, vart-man—eight minutes/20 seconds, white (¤hukla)—11 min- Puta-páka is done from 1 to 3 days, 1 day for utes/45 seconds, black (k^ißhòa)—16 minutes/45 Kapha disorders or for scraping measures, 2 days seconds. For diseases affecting the entire eye— for Pitta eye diseases or emulsive therapy, 3 days 13 minutes/20 seconds. Still, others say that such for Váyu eye disorders or healing puta-páka. eye diseases require 16 minutes/45 seconds, and diseases affecting the pupils require 30 minutes. Oil, fomentation and aromas are used for emul- sives and scraping puta-páka, but not for the heal- The ghee is then released through the inner ing version. Persons must carefully follow their corner of the eye. Kapha becomes excessed in diets and life-styles (according to their doßha) for this area and is then relieved by inhaling Kapha- twice as long as the therapy lasts. reducing aromas such as cedar, frankincense, or myrrh. This continues for 1, 3, or 5 days for Proper use of tarpana and puta-páka results in Váyu, Pitta, and Kapha, respectively, or some clearing of the symptoms involved, whereas im- say for mild, moderate, and severe symptoms, proper use will result in a worsening of vision, respectively. pain and other unhealthy symptoms. Tarpana is used for symptoms of shriveling Precautions: Follow all the precautions of tar- or debilitation of the eyelashes, cloudy and dark pana, nasal evacuatives, and internal oils. After vision, arched vision, no tears, parched eye, hard the doßhas are rebalanced, all precautions are met eyelids, and severe diseases of the eye. and tarpana is applied, puta-páka is then used. Precautions: Tarpana is not used on cloudy, Upon completion of tarpana, one should not very hot or very cold days. Persons who are stare at bright lights, including the sun, a fire, or anxious or fearful should not use tarpana. Nor any luminous object. Further, one is required to should it be used before major symptoms have prevent wind gusts from hitting the eye. If these cleared up. precautions are not followed and the eyes are hurt, or if they are hurt from improper puta-páka and Puta-páka: tarpana remedies, eye salves, drops, nasal evacu- atives, aromatherapy, and fomentation can allevi- Three forms exist: ate the troubles. 1. Emulsives (snehana)—used in very dry con- Procedure: General herbal therapies are used. ditions. 2. Scraping (lekhana)—used when oil is fre- quently applied to the eye. 3. Healing (ropana)—used when eye diseases Sprinkling (¤heka) and are healed. Eye drops (áschyotana): Preparation: (See Chapter 7- Pañcha Karma page 243 for 1. Emulsives—ghee with ¤hatávarí, balá, and more details). Eye drops are used for mild dis- licorice are held in the eye for 3 min./20 seconds. eases of the eye, and sprinkling is used for severe 446
Section 4: Specific Illnesses and Diseases Chapter 19: Ear, Nose, Throat, (Eyes, Mouth) symptoms. Three forms of these therapies exist, • Pitta: astringent just like puta-páka, • Kapha: pungent, bitter, astringent • Blood: astringent • Scraping (lekhana)—7 to 8 drops • Emulsive (sehana)—10 drops Dual/Tri-Doßhas—combinations of the tastes • Healing (ropana)—12 drops When an excess of the doßhas exists in the eye, Some say eye drops are held as long as puta- eyelids, in the eyeball, its passages and capillaries, páka, and sprinkling is held in the eye for twice as and in the nose gristle, they are secreted through long. Others say that both are held in the eye twice the mouth, nostrils, and corners of the eye through as long as puta-páka. Both therapies are applied the application of scraping salves. in the morning, afternoon, or evening (depending upon the doßha imbalanced), or whenever there is 2. Healing (ropana)—Herbs used contain bit- eye pain. Again, proper application results in feel- ter and astringent tastes, mixed with a little ghee. ing better, whereas improper application results This cooling therapy brings color and strength to in feeling worse. (This is stated because there is a the eye. belief in many holistic circles that detoxification causes one to feel worse before they feel better. 3. Invigorating (prasádana)—Sweet herbs are This is not so with Áyurvedic therapies, except used with a large amount of ghee. This tones and for some skin conditions). invigorates the vision. Head Bladders (¤hiro-basti): (See Chapter Punarnavá or chandrodaya salves are used in 7—Pañcha Karma page 240). This is used for the morning for Kapha disorders, afternoon for various head disorders. After receiving purgatives Pitta imbalances, and evening with deranged and emetics (depending upon the doßha imbal- Váyu. Other authorities say scraping is done in ance), and having eaten according to the doßhas the morning, healing in the afternoon, and invigo- imbalanced, persons are ready for ¤hiro basti. In rating at night. A third opinion to sue them ac- the evening, sitting erect, a bladder or cone that cording to the seasonal doßhas. will not leak from oil placed inside it, is placed on the head, and firmly tied around the forehead. Salves may be in pill, liquid and powder form, Emulsive oil is poured inside the cone, to allow and may be used for serious, moderate, and mild the head to soak in the oil. (Some authorities use symptoms. A typical dose is 4 to 6 gms. various pastes between the cone and the forehead to prevent leaks.) The head is soaked for 10 times Procedure: The eyelids are made to slant with or as long as the time the tarpana is held in the the left-hand fingers while the salve is applied eye. with the right hand. The salve is applied from the cornea to the apañga (corners) and back again (along the inner eyelid). It is repeated two or three times. A rod is used for the inside eyelid, and the finger is used on the outer eyelid. Eye salves (añjana): There are three forms of The salve is thinly pasted in the corners of the eye salves: eye (from the cornea to the corner) so as not to hurt the area. Only after the doßhas are reduced is the 1. Scraping (lekhana)—herbs used may be of eye to be washed, otherwise the symptoms might one or more taste, except sweet (i.e., sour, salty, be further aggravated. First the eye is washed with pungent, bitter, astringent). The tastes used will water. Pratyanjana [sarsaparilla, honey, sugar, depend upon the doßha imbalanced. Váyu: sour licorice, and relegar mainßhil (antimony sulfide) and salty mixed with water] is then used depending upon the doßha imbalanced or one’s constitution. 447
The Áyurveda Encyclopedia Herbs: Triphalá, myrrh, punarnavá, kußhtha, External Eye Injury sandalwood, cardamom, licorice, pippalí, black (Nayaná-bhigháta-Pratißhedha) pepper, jaóámáò¤hí, mañjißhþhá, cedar, lodhra, barberry, and tálíspatra. Causes and Symptoms: Violent, unbearable eye pain with redness and swelling, caused by injury Precautions: Anjana is not used when there is to the eye, or resulting from excess fomentation, fever, udávarta, with head diseases, during anger, smoke, glare, fear, or agony, is healed by nasal grief, fear, crying, intoxication, constipation, or therapies, plasters, sprinkling (seka), soothing urine retention because it might cause tears, pain, (tarpana) measures, puta-páka, and all therapies redness, blindness, swelling, or giddiness. It is not for Pitta and blood conjunctivitis (abißhyanda). to be used with insomnia as it may cause blind- Cool, sweet, and bulk-promoting herbs are also ness. Anjana is not to be used on windy days, as it useful. may cause impairment to the sight. For excess fomentation, smoke, glare, fear, When the eyes have dust or smoke in them, an- agony, pain, or injury, these therapies are used jana may cause redness, ophthalmia, or tears. It during the first week of the disease. Afterwards, is not used after nasal therapies as it may cause therapies identical to those used for conjuncti- aching and eye swelling. Any head disease will be vitis (depending upon the excessed doßha) are further aggravated by using anjana. It is not used employed. Mild conditions may be immediately before sunrise, after bathing, on very cold days, relieved by applying warm breath fomentation or with indigestion. When the doßhas are imbal- (steam in the mouth). anced, anjana should not be used. If ulceration is on only one coating of the eye, This is especially true for scraping anjana. In- it is easily healed. When two coats are affected stead, these symptoms are treated with washing healing it is difficult. If three coats are affected it the eyes with water, drops, plasters, smoke, nasal cannot be healed. When eye looseness, disloca- therapies, and gargles, depending upon the symp- tion, sunkeness, deep impressions, or loss of vi- toms of the imbalanced doßhas. sion exist, the situation is only containable. Poor vision with pupil dilation, without extreme red- As with other therapies, proper application of ness or eyeball dislocation, and good vision are scraping anjana results in improved conditions, signs that therapies will be helpful. whereas improper application (excess or deficient application) results in increased troubles. For im- To raise a sunken eye, holding one’s breath, caus- proper application, the anjana is completely re- ing vomiting, sneezing, or choking the windpipe moved through using nasal therapies, anjana, and is useful. If the eyes are hanging from the sockets, steam therapy. it is reinstalled without damaging the nerves, and gently pressed with the palms (with a lotus leaf Invigorating and healing salves are applied between the pupil and the palm). The eye is then properly when the symptoms are soothed. Excess filled with a tarpana of milk, and medicated ghee. or deficient application results in aggravation of This liquid is also used as a nasal therapy. Long symptoms. To heal excess and deficient applica- breaths of air are taken through the nostrils, and tion, puta-páka, aromas, and nasal therapies are cold water is poured on the head. used. Infant Inner Eyelid Disorder (Kukunaka-opthal- mia): Váyu, Pitta, Kapha, and blood may become imbalanced owing to poor quality of breast milk. Symptoms include excess itching of the eyes, fre- quently rubbing the eyes, nose, and forehead with 448
Section 4: Specific Illnesses and Diseases Chapter 19: Ear, Nose, Throat, (Eyes, Mouth) fists. Tears are constant, and sunlight is unbear- Kavala (gargling): The directions are the same able. as gandúßha, only half the mouth is filled with the liquids, so there is room to gargle. All the herbs Therapies first involve blood-letting (with leech- and discussed below are used here as well. Either es), scraping with rough leaves, and then rubbing approach can be used, gandúßha or kavala. with t^ikatu and honey paste. The mother fol- lows therapies described earlier for improving the Therapies: Tingling or pains associated with the quality of breast milk. The child should be given teeth (Váyu excesses): sesame oil, warm water. black salt, honey, pippalí, jamun (a black, sweet (Perhaps the calcium in sesame oil heals tooth fruit in India), ámalakí, mango leaves and bark, and gum problems.) Triphalá decoction is one of neem, guæúchí, and ghee as an emetic. Therapy is the best general remedies for oral diseases. It can stopped when the child begins to vomit. be used for either kavala or gandúßha. If the child is drinking breast milk and solid Incurable Mouth Diseases foods, the emetic is given with calamus. For older children no longer drinking breast milk, the emet- Mouth: Caused by imbalanced muscle, blood, ic is given with rock salt, apámárga (kapikachhú) or tridoßhic causes: seed, pippalí, mainsphal, and milk. The eyes are washed and sprinkled, and eye drops of triphalá Gums: Tridoßhic sinus in the gums (náæí vraòa) and guæúchí ghee are applied. Salves of black and tridoßhic ¤haußhira (gingivitis with cavity). pepper, myrrh, t^ikatu, onion, licorice, neem, tur- Teeth: §hyáva-dantaka (black or blue discolor- meric, lodhra, and punarnavá, pasted with honey ation on teeth), dálana (toothache), and bhanjana and water are useful. (chipped tooth). Mouth Cavity (Mukha Roga) Tongue: Alása. Palate: Arvuda (palate cancer). These diseases include the lips (ústh), gums Throat: Valaya (tumor), v^inda (large tumor), (dantmúl), teeth (dantaka), tongue (jihvá), pal- balása (sarcoma), ¤hataghni (malignant growths), ate (tálu-gata) i.e., tonsillitis, throat/larynx (kaòóa inflammatory swelling (vidárí), tridoßhic inflam- roga), entire mouth cavity (savra-sara). matory swelling (máåsatána), rohini. Tumors and palate cancer require surgery as Diseases covered under this section include gin- well as detoxifying herbs (see Chapter 22). For givitis, tartar, tooth abscess, and laryngitis. impacted teeth (adhimámsaká) additional herbs of vachá, pippalí, and neem are used, followed by Causes: There are 65 diseases of the mouth cav- ¤hirovirechana, snuff and inhaling smoke. ity: 8 lip disorders, 15 gum problems, 8 tooth ills, For throat edema, tonsillitis, palatal abscess, 5 tongue concerns, 9 palate complaints, 17 throat acute superficial glossitis, gingivitis, dental ab- conditions, and 3 maladies of the entire cavity. scess, goiter, and hyperthyroidism, see the Meta- bolic System; Chapter 25. Two forms of healing are available for all dis- orders: Gandúßha: One sits in a darkened room with no draft, while the neck and shoulders are massaged and sudated. The mouth is filled with liquid and held, until there is no room for movement, or until the nose and eyes begin to tear. 449
The Áyurveda Encyclopedia Mouth, and Tooth Disorders Pus, Blood, Shaky Teeth /Bleeding Gingivitis/ (Mukha Roga) Pyorrhea (dantaveßhóa) are caused by bad blood. Causes: Over-eating animal products, milk, and Swelling at the root of a tooth (¤haußhira) causes yogurt causes gum and tooth disorders, as well as excess saliva. This is caused by Kapha and rakta. an excess of all three doßhas with a predominance of Kapha. Loose Teeth, Palate Fissure and ¤haußhira symptoms (mahá¤haußhira) are caused by all Lips: three doßhas. Herbal therapies are not useful for Váyu causes lips to become rough, hard, im- this condition. movable, painful, and to develop cracks and fis- sures. Gum Decay and Bleeding (paridara) result Pitta excesses cause painful inflammatory el- from excess Pitta, rakta, and Kapha. evations with burning. Ulcers and are yellowish. Kapha increases cause the lips to develop slight- Burning Gums, Ulcers, Shaky Teeth (upa- ly painful elevations (papules). Lips are unctuous, ku¤ha) result from excess Pitta and rakta. cold, and heavy. Tridoßhic excesses cause black, yellow, or white Gum Chaffing, Burning, Ulcers, Shaky Teeth lips, with a bumpy appearance or having several (vaidarbha) result from trauma. elevations. Blood (rakta) excesses cause red elevations that Extra Tooth [growing over an existing tooth] discharge blood. causes severe pain during growth (khalivard- Muscle (máåsa) excesses cause lips to become hana) results from excess Váyu. heavy, thick, lumpy, with discharges from the cor- ners of the mouth that contain worms. Irregular or Ugly Teeth (karála) result from ex- Fat (medas) excesses cause lips to appear shiny cess Váyu. No therapy exists for this condition. like ghee, develop heaviness, and exude large quantities of a clear fluid. Ulcers can form and not Large Swelling at Last Molar causes great pain heal. Lips do not return to their normal softness. and dribbling saliva (adhimáåsaka) is caused by External injury can cause bleeding, swelling, or excess Kapha. itching. Gum Sinus Ulcers (náæí vraòa) [five kinds] are similar to those discussed in Chapter 16, page 405. Tooth Disorders (Danta Roga) Toothache (dálana) results from excess Váyu. Black Holes in Teeth, Bleeding, Swollen, Pain- ful (krimidantaka) is caused by excess Váyu. Gum Disorders (Dantamúla Roga) Irregular Shape of Face and Teeth (bhañ-jana- ka) is caused by excess Váyu and Kapha. Bleeding, Spongy Gums (¤hitáda) with foul smell, blackening, oozing, soft, tearing muscle, Sensitive Teeth (dantaharßha) results from ex- and pus formation result from excess Kapha and cess Pitta and Váyu. blood (rakta). Tooth Tartar (dant¤harkará) results from Pitta Gum Swelling/Gingivitis (dantapuppuóaka) [of and Váyu. In addition to herbal therapies, scrap- 2 or 3 teeth] is also caused by Kapha and rakta. ing, dusting and snuff are required. See the Metabolic System Chapter (25). 450
Section 4: Specific Illnesses and Diseases Chapter 19: Ear, Nose, Throat, (Eyes, Mouth) Excess Tartar, Flakes and Decay (kapáliká). Chapter 22 for cancer therapies. This is very difficult to heal. Palate Cancer (táluarbuda) is a swelling at the Black or Blue Teeth (¤hyávadantaka) results palate center caused by excess rakta. This condi- from Pitta and rakta. Herbal therapies are not use- tion is painless. Herbs are used after surgery (see ful for this condition. Chapter 22). Gum Abscess (with pus and blood, burning and Benign Tumor (máåsa sanghata) is caused by pain) (dantavidradhi) is discussed under Meta- Kapha it is called máåsa-sa´gháta. This swell- bolic System, Chapter 25. ing is painless. Herbs are used after surgery (see Chapter 22). Tongue Disorders (Jihwá Roga) Fatty Cysts (tálu pupputa) is caused by Kapha and fat. Small papule sized, it is painless and does Váyu excesses cause fissures, loss of sensation, not move. and are leaf-like in appearance. Dryness (tálu¤hoßha) results from excess Váyu. Pitta excesses cause burning sensations with Symptoms include difficulty breathing. Ulcer studded elevations and reddish thorny lesions. (tálu páka) results from excess Pitta. Kapha excesses cause thickness, swelling, and Throat Disorders (Kaòóha Roga) muscular sprouts. Rohini : All three doßhas become excessed Large Swelling (alása) has symptoms of excess and invade the muscle tissue (máåsa dhátu) and Kapha and rakta, making it difficult to move the blood (rakta), causing sprouts in the throat that tongue. An ulcer develops at the root of the tongue. obstruct the throat and may lead to death. Any of This condition cannot be helped with herbs. the doßhas can predominate. Salivary Cyst (upajihvá) is a severe swelling Váyu excesses cause severe pain over the sur- under the tip of the tongue caused by Kapha and face of the tongue (and other symptoms of Váyu rakta. Symptoms include excess salivation, itch- abscess—see Chapter 16) ing and localized burning sensation. This is dis- cussed in Chapter 25, page 533. Pitta excesses cause sprouts that quickly appear, develop pus and ulcer. These are accompanied by Palate Disorders (Tálugata Roga) a high fever and other symptoms of Pitta abscess. Enlarged uvula (kanóa ¤huòæi) is caused by ex- Kapha excesses cause large, hard, immovable cess Kapha and rakta. Symptoms include thirst, sprouts that totally block the throat. —Tridoßha cough, and difficulty swallowing. Herbs are used (equal strength of the doßhas) cause deeply rooted after surgery. sprouts. This condition is incurable. Hard Swelling (tuòæikerí) is an advanced stage Rakta sprouts are small, with red papules and of enlarged uvula. Symptoms include burning symptoms of Pitta abscess. sensation and pus or ulcer. Small Tumors (kaòóa ¤hálúka) are caused by Soft Swelling (adhrußha) is caused by excess excess Kapha. They are hard, immovable and can rakta with fever and severe pain. only be healed by surgery. Detoxifying herbs are used thereafter for prevention of further growths Palatal Tumor (kachapa) is caused by excess (see Chapter 22). Kapha. It develops slowly and is painless. See 451
The Áyurveda Encyclopedia Swollen adenoids (adhijihvá) is caused by ex- healed with herbs. Detoxifying herbs are used cess Kapha and rakta, causing a swelling at the after surgery for prevention of further growths back of the tongue. If pus or ulcer develop, herbal (see Chapter 22). therapy is not useful. Detoxifying herbs are fol- lowing surgery for prevention of further growths Large Tumor (vrinda) is caused by Pitta and (see Chapter 22). blood. It is an elevated, round swelling with se- vere burning sensation and high fever. If Váyu is Tumor (valaya) results from excess Kapha involved it is also painful. This condition cannot and obstructs the passage of food. This condition be healed with herbs. Detoxifying herbs are used can not be healed with herbs. Detoxifying herbs after surgery for prevention of further growths are used after surgery for prevention of further (see Chapter 22). growths (see Chapter 22). Malignant Growth (¤hataghni) is a swelling Sarcoma (balása) is caused by excess Kapha studded with muscle-sprout spikes, causing dif- and Váyu causing swelling, difficulty breathing, ferent kinds of pain and is life-threatening. This pain, and vital organ pain. This condition cannot condition cannot be healed with herbs. Detoxify- be healed with herbs. Detoxifying herbs are used ing herbs are used after surgery for prevention of after surgery for prevention of further growths further growths (see Chapter 22). (see Chapter 22). Tonsillitis (galáyu) See the Metabolic Sys- Tumor (ekavrinda) is a round, elevated swell- tem—Chapter (25). ing with burning sensations, itching, hardness. It does not develop pus or ulcer. It is caused Pharyngeal abscess (gala vidradhi) is caused by Kapha and rakta. This condition cannot be by all three doßhas and is associated with swell- ing and different kinds of pains. 452
Section 4: Specific Illnesses and Diseases Chapter 19: Ear, Nose, Throat, (Eyes, Mouth) : 453
The Áyurveda Encyclopedia 454
Section 4: Specific Illnesses and Diseases Chapter 20: Nervous System Persons whose Váyu is in balance live 100 years without disease. Mádhava Nidánam - Ch. 22; ver. 80 Chapter 20 Nervous System (Váta-vyádhi) Convulsions, Sciatica, Insanity, Epilepsy, Addictions, Alcohol, Fainting, Coma, Wasting, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinsons, Alzheimer’s s Váyu is the sustainer of life, those whose Cause: Váyu is the vital nerve-force that per- Váyu flows properly will live a long and vades the entire body. It is considered identical to Divine eternal energy and is, therefore, self-gener- healthy life. The five forms of Váyu gov- ating. Váyu is at the root of all nervous disorders. erning the various physical and mental movement Causes include cold, roughness, lightness, little or of air have been previously discussed. They are no food, excessive sex, talking or staying up late; repeated here, to show how the Váyu sub-doähas or excessive release of toxins and blood. Other can afflict the nervous system causes are leaping, jumping, traveling, or exercise in excess, wasting of the tissues, excessive ema- Váyu Location Controls ciation from anxiety, grief, fear, or illness. Further causes are uncomfortable beds and chairs, anger, Prá`a head, chest, digestion, breath- naps, fear, suppressing natural urges, áma (tox- throat, tongue, ing, belching, ins), injury, fasting, injuring vital organs, or ac- Udána mouth, nose cidents. Váyu becomes excessed, filling the body Samána navel, chest, sneezing, spitting, channels, causing disorders associated with those Vyána heart function body parts. Apána throat speech effort, en- As tissues become depleted, Váyu fills the chan- sweat, doähas, ergy, complexion, nels with air, or become mixed with the other fluid, small aspiration, memory doßhas that have filled the channels. A second intestine way Váyu becomes excessed is by increasing the entire body digestion functioning of the channels. When Váyu is the only cause of vitiation, the result is more severe; colon, geni- circulation, muscle/ when it is mixed with Pitta or Kapha, it is not as tals, urinary joint movement, powerful. bladder, navel, thighs, anus blinking, secretions Development: Váyu accumulates in its home semen, urine, stool, site, the colon, causing colic, gas, gurgling, feces obstruction, urinary stones, herniated scrotum, menses, fetus hemorrhoids, sharp pain the back and waist, and other difficult diseases related to the lower body If any of the Váyus is imbalanced, or moves parts. to the wrong channel, the body becomes afflicted with various disorders that can be life-threaten- ing. 455
The Áyurveda Encyclopedia Symptoms: Excess Váyu causes contraction, to tingling and piercing skin pain, with cracks and stiff joints, hands, back, or head; tearing of bones fissures. or joints, hair standing on end, delirium, limping, crippling, humpback, organ dryness, and insom- In Blood (Raktagata): Persons experience se- nia. It also causes organ numbness, crookedness vere pain and heat, poor complexion, thinness, of the head, nose, eyes, neck, and clavicular area; anorexia, body pimples, indigestion, loss of sen- miscarriage, destruction of sperm or ovum, pul- sation, redness, ulceration, loss of appetite, ema- sation, tearing or piercing pain, distress, convul- ciation, and dizziness. sions, confusion, and exhaustion. In Muscles (Máåsagata): Symptoms include When Váyu becomes aggravated nodes and tumors with severe pain and hardness, In the Whole Body (Sarvánga): Symptoms in- exertion, heaviness, and rigidity. clude tremors, twitching, pulsating, cutting pain, joint pain In Fat (Medogata): Persons develop painless tu- In the Abdomen/Alimentary Tract/ Bowels mors with ulcers. (Koßhóhá-¤hrita): Symptoms include obstruction to the passage of urine and feces; abdominal tu- In Marrow (Majjágata): Symptoms include mor, heart disease, hemorrhoids, and rib pain. breaking pain in joints, weakness, constant pain In Rectum (Gudá¤hrita): Urine, stool, and gas throughout the body and insomnia. retention; colic, urinary stones or gravel, abdomi- nal distention, pain and emaciation in legs, calves, In Bones (Asthigata): Experiences include thigh, thighs, pelvis, sacrum, feet, and back can devel- bone, and joint breaking pain; loss of strength, op. wasting, cracking, and bursting. In Stomach and Small Intestine (Ámá¤haya): Person’s experience pain in the heart, navel, ribs, In Semen/Ovum (£hukragata): One experiences and abdomen; thirst, belching, cough, dry throat premature ejaculation or retention of semen and and mouth, difficult breathing, vomiting, vertigo, fetus (including abnormal fetus). and epilepsy. In Colon (Pakvá¤haya): Experiences include In Tendons: Symptoms include sciatica, tetanus, intestinal gurgling, colic, meteorism, difficulty and hunch back. passing stool and urine, bowel hardness, piercing pain in the navel area and sharp pain in waist and In Ligaments (Snáyu): Cramps, humpbacked, back. Other experiences include hemorrhoids, neck, torso, and back problems (opisthotonus, cough, indigestion with vomiting and diarrhea emprosthotonus) are symptoms of this disorder. simultaneously; herniated scrotum, thirst, vom- iting, and difficult breathing. Further symptoms In Veins/Arteries - Blood vessels (Sirágata): include throat obstruction, scanty and painful uri- Persons experience mild pain, dry swellings, nation and stool (or complete stoppage); excess emptiness, tremors, stiffness or constriction, and belching, coccyx, pain and diseases related to the neuralgia. body above the navel. In Sense Organs (Indriyagata): Loss of sensa- In Joints (Sandhigata): One experiences air- tion (e.g., ears, eyes) filled swellings and pain when moving limbs In Skin (Twak): Symptoms include rough, cracked, numb, and thin skin; redness, joint pain, Convulsions (Ákshe-paka) dryness, discoloration, and twitching. This leads Váyu excesses cause convulsions, drying of hands, feet, blood vessels, ligaments, tendons, and hips. Symptoms include frequent jerky move- ments of the body. This disease cannot be healed if it lasts longer than one year. All convulsive dis- orders are experienced intermittently. 456
Section 4: Specific Illnesses and Diseases Chapter 20: Nervous System In Half the Body: When excess Váyu is in one upwards, causing pain in the heart, head, and half of the body, it dries up the blood, hands, legs, temples, making the body bend like a bow. One and knees. experiences convulsions and loss of conscious- ness. Other symptoms include difficult breathing, The limbs and tissues are also contracted. This wide-eyed (without blinking) or eyes completely results in the face, nose, eyebrows, forehead, eyes, closed, and cooing sounds. Causes include abor- and jaw becoming crooked. The tongue is raised; tion, heavy bleeding, and trauma. Healing is dif- the voice is hoarse, weak, and speech is hindered. ficult. Long-term conditions cannot be healed. It causes loose teeth, impaired hearing, pains in the foot, eye, leg, temple, ear, and cheek. These Convulsions and Consciousness (Apatánaka): symptoms occur in either half of the body or the This is a similar condition to apatantraka. Symp- face (facial paralysis). toms include eyes having a fixed gaze, uncon- sciousness, cooing, intermittent relief. Healing is Throughout Body: The lower body is first af- difficult. Long-term conditions cannot be healed. fected, then, the upper extremities and head, or the whole body are affected; deranging all the tissues. Váyu/Kapha Body Paralysis (Dandaka): When Persons experience numbness or paralysis, limb excess Váyu further develops an excess of Kapha, convulsions and contractions, pricking, splitting, both doßhas overflow into all the body’s channels, throbbing, cutting pain, stiffness, convulsions, filled with undigested food toxins (áma), it makes tremors, and swelling. the body stiff (like a wood log) with paralysis. A major symptom is jaw bone paralysis. Healing is In the Neck Carotid Arteries/Nerves - Stiff Neck very difficult, if not impossible. (Manyásthambha): Váyu can become excessed alone or with Kapha from day naps, irregular pos- Tetanus (Dhanustambha): Excessed Váyu ture or looking in an upward direction for a long causes the body to bend in a bow shape. time. —Inner-Bending Bow (Abhyanthráyáma); —Áñtaráyáma: Stiff arteries/nerves at the side When the excessed Váyu affects the nerves and of the neck (manyá dhamanis). Experiences in- tendons located in the toes, heels, abdomen, heart clude neck bending inwards, stiff carotid arteries area, chest, and throat, it causes severe convulsive throughout the body; shoulder constriction, grind- movements. Other symptoms include fixed gaze, ing of teeth, salivation, the back bending inward stiff lower jaw, withdrawn ribs, vomiting mucus, like a bow, stiff head, yawning, and lockjaw. It and the body bending inwards. also causes convulsions, loss of eye movement, vomiting of mucus, rib pain, and difficulty speak- —Outer-Bending Bow (Báhyáyáma); When ing. Váyu affects the tendons and nerves of the exter- nal body parts, persons develop outward bending In the Back - Opisthotonos (Vahiráyáma): When (of the front portion of the body), degeneration excess Váyu dries up the external vessels of the (dystrophy) of the chest, waist, and thighs. This back and carotid arteries, it causes back stiffness cannot be healed. that results in one bending outward or downward. The head leans backwards. The chest is pushed Trauma/Hemorrhage (Vraòáyáma): When the upwards. Carotid arteries are stiff, and the neck doßhas become aggravated in wounds on vital or- is bent downward. There is grinding teeth, discol- gans by Váyu, they spread throughout the body oration of teeth and mouth, yawning, salivation, and produce convulsions. Symptoms include loss of speech, excess sweating, physical debility, thirst and a yellowish-white complexion. This is restlessness. It may be life-threatening. a very serious condition. Any or all of the doßhas can become excessed. Convulsions and Unconsciousness (Apatan- traka): When aggravated Váyu becomes obstruct- Convulsions caused by abortion, trauma, or ed in its downward movement, it starts moving excessive bleeding cannot be healed. 457
The Áyurveda Encyclopedia Tongue Difficulties (Jihvá-sthambha): When Pitta symptoms include burning sensation, in- Váyu is caught in the tendons, nerves, and veins, creased temperature of the affected body parts, and near the vocal cords, it causes paralysis of the fainting. Kapha symptoms include cold, swelling tongue with consequent inability to swallow and and heaviness of the affected body parts. speak. Pakßhavadha caused by Váyu is difficult to Lock-Jaw (Hanusramsa): Loose jaw or lock- heal. When it is caused by Váyu and other doßhas, jaw. Owing to excess tongue scraping, eating it is easy to heal. Symptoms of emaciation or dry foods and trauma, Váyu becomes localized wasting cannot be healed. When Pakßhavadha is and excessed at the lower jaw. This displaces the found in pregnant women, women who have just lower jaw, making it stay open or closed, causes given birth, the elderly, emaciated person, caused chewing and speaking difficulties. Healing is dif- by excessive bleeding, or experiencing no sensa- ficult. Long-term conditions are incurable. tion at all in the affected limb, treatment should not be attempted. Shoulder Caused Arm Paraly- Facial Paralysis (Ardita): Váyu becomes ex- sis (Apabá-huka): Váyu situated at the shoulder’s cessed and localized in the upper body from car- roots constrict the tendons, nerves, and veins, and rying heavy loads on the head, excess laughing, cause emaciation of the local muscles. Loss of speaking, facial exertion (e.g., mimicking), sneez- arm movement develops. ing, physical strain, sleeping on uneven or hard pillows, and chewing very hard foods. Symptoms Hand Caused Arm Paralysis (Vishvá-chí): Ten- include irregularities in half of the face (espe- don constriction in the palms and fingers and back cially during laughing and with sight). The head of the arm, leads to loss of arm functioning. begins to shake. Premonitory symptoms include speech obstructions, loss of eye movement, trem- Leg Paralysis (Khañja/Pa´gu): Váyu localized ors, teeth shaking, hoarseness, deafness, blocked in the thighs and waist constricts these tendons sneezing, loss of smell and memory, delusions, causing lameness to either one (khañga) or both exhaustion during sleep, saliva coming out of the (pa´gu) legs. mouth during sleep, one eye becomes closed, se- vere pain above the shoulders, half of the body, or Leg Obstructions (Kalá-vakhañja): Symptoms in lower body. When this disorder exists in emaci- include trembling legs and pain when beginning ated persons for over 3 years, who can not wink to walk, as well as limping and loose joints. This and slur their speech, it is incurable. is caused by eating peas or lentils. In Blood and Veins (Sirágraha): Váyu becomes Stiff Thighs (Úru-sthambha): Excesses of Váyu, excessed in the blood and veins of the head, caus- Kapha, fat, and undigested food toxins are caused ing them to shrink, become hard, painful, and by overeating cold, hot, moist, dry, heavy, fatty, black. This disorder is difficult to heal or may not cooked or raw foods, overexertion, debility, not be healed. sleeping, or oversleeping. This results in the ac- cumulation of doßhas and toxins in the thighs, fill- Hemiplegia - Half of the Body Veins and Tendons ing the interior of the thigh bone with Kapha. The (Pakßhavadha or Eká´garoga): Váyu becomes thigh becomes stiff and inactive, cold, senseless, excessed in half of the body, drying the veins and heavy, and with severe pain. Symptoms include, tendons by loosening the joints. The result is the excessive belching, worry, body aches, inactivity, loss of function and tactile sensation. —Whole stupor, vomiting, loss of appetite and taste, fever, Body Paralysis (Sarváñgaroga): As above, when weakness in the feet, difficulty lifting, and loss of Váyu affects the entire body, the disorder is dif- the sense of touch. ficult to heal. The involvement of excess Pitta and Kapha render this condition incurable. Knee Swelling (Kroßhóuka £hírßha): Váyu and blood becoming excessed, produces a swelling in the middle of the knee that is very painful and 458
Section 4: Specific Illnesses and Diseases Chapter 20: Nervous System large. Should any of these diseases not subside within Ankle Pain (Váta-kaòóaka): Váyu accumulates 5 years, they cannot be healed. in the ankle joint or heel owing to walking im- Sciatica (G^idhrasí) properly or by overexertion, causing severe heel or ankle pain. Excesses of Váyu either alone or with Kapha cause difficulty and severe pain in the lumbar re- Finger/Toe Contraction (Khalli): The legs, gion down through the thighs, knees, calves, and thighs, calves, chest, and arm contraction and feet. Váyu causes rigidity, throbbing, pricking pain. pain, intermittent symptoms, irregular shape of body parts, and severe stiffness of the knee and Foot Sleeping (Páda-harßha): Experiences in- waist. Kapha symptoms include stupor, heavi- clude tingling sensations in the feet (i.e., loss of ness, poor digestion, salivation, and aversion to tactile sensations or it feels like pins and needles.) food. This is caused by Kapha and Váyu. Burning Soles (Páda-dáha): Váyu, Pitta, and blood cause burning sensations in the soles of one involved in excess walking. Nasal/Stammering(Minminatwa/Gadgadatwa): Dual Doßhas: Excess Váyu and Kapha invade the vessels of the When Váyu enters the origin sites of Pitta and voice box, causing muteness, talking through the Kapha (small intestine or stomach), mixed symp- nose, or stammering. toms occur. Cutting Pain in Rectum, Bladder, Groin (Túní): Váyu/Pitta: Burning, heat, thirst, fainting, and When excess Váyu moves in a downward direc- other Váyu diseases related to that part of the tion, severe cutting pain is experienced in these body can develop. areas. Váyu/Kapha: Symptoms include coldness, Cutting Colon Pain (Pratitúni): When excess swelling, heaviness in the associated area of the Váyu moves in an upward direction, the pain is body. felt in the colon. Váyu/Blood: Pricking pain that is unbearable to Lower Abdominal Distention (Adhmána): Ex- touch, or numbness, and other Pitta symptoms oc- cess Váyu causes obstructed gas that develops cur. intestinal gurgling, severe pain, and distention of the lower abdomen. Práòa Váyu/Pitta: Vomiting, burning, and other Pitta symptoms develop. Upper Abdominal Distention (Pratádhmána): When excess Váyu and Kapha are involved the Práòa Váyu/Kapha: Symptoms include weak- above symptoms are felt in the stomach (but not ness, lassitude, skin discoloration, loss of taste, in the heart or rib area). and appetite. Prostate Tumor/No Pain (Aßhóila): A tumor ob- Udána Váyu/Pitta: Burning, fainting, epileptic structs the passage of feces and urine. Also see fit, giddiness, vertigo, or fatigues develops. Chapter 18. Udána Váyu/Kapha: Symptoms include lack of Prostate Tumor/Pain (Pratyaßhóila): A tumor perspiration, goose bumps, poor digestion, cold- obstructs the passage of gas, feces, and urine, and ness, and numbness in the related body parts. causes pain. Also see Chapter 18. Samána Váyu/Pitta: Excess perspiration, heat, Tremors (Vepathu): Váyu excesses throughout burning, or epilepsy develops. the body cause tremors (including of the head). 459
The Áyurveda Encyclopedia Samána Váyu/Kapha: Experiences include Váyu/Pitta: Symptoms include burning, thirst, excess mucus, urine and feces, hair standing on pain, giddiness, darkness, desire for cold things; end. burning is exacerbated by eating and drinking hot, pungent, sour, and salty things. Apána Váyu/Pitta: Heat, burning, and menor- rhagia can develop. Váyu/Blood: Persons experience burning, dis- tress, and the area between the skin and muscles Apána Váyu/Kapha: Heaviness of lower limbs become red, swollen, and rashes develop. can occur. Váyu/Kapha: The above symptoms are experi- Vyána Váyu/Pitta: Symptoms include limbs enced along with drowsiness, heaviness, and an- burning and jerking, and fatigue. orexia. Vyána Váyu/Kapha: Persons can develop heavi- Váyu/Muscle: Symptoms include hard, discol- ness of limbs, stiff or numb bone joints, and can ored boils, swelling, hair standing on end, a feel- find it difficult to move or walk. ing like ants are crawling on the body. Vertigo: This may be caused by constipation or Váyu/Fat: Persons experience anorexia, shift- toxic liver. Váyu presses bile into the heart and the ing, oiliness, softness and cold swellings of body heart presses air into the head. Thus, it is a disease parts. This is difficult to heal. of Váyu and Pitta. Váyu/Bone: One desires hot compresses and Váyu—loss of hearing, suffocating, dry nose, massage and experiences breaking and piercing and tongue. Bráhmí (gotu kola) is helpful. pain, sickliness. Pitta—burning eyes. Bráhmí, ¤ha´kh pußhpí, Váyu/Marrow: Bending, yawning, cramps, and and ¤hatávarí are useful. pains (eased when pressed) develop. Other therapies: £hiro basti and urd dal for Váyu/Semen-Ovum: Semen is either excessive brain and semen building/balancing are advised. or not emitted; sterility occurs. Shad bindu oil is used in the nose. Váyu/Food: One experiences abdominal pain Hemispheres when eating; pain disappears when stomach is of the brain empty. (Menengoleyan Váyu/Urine: Urinary retention, bladder burst- Layer ing. Outer Mengel Secretion - Pitta) Váyu/Stool: Symptoms include constipation, anal/rectal cutting pain. Oily items are quickly di- gested; hard bowels occur after meals; pain occurs in hip, groin, and back; Váyu moves backwards; the heart becomes weak. FIGURE 1 Space Therapies: (Váyu) Certain symptoms can be healed if they have recently developed or if persons are strong. Váyu causes excesses of Pitta and Kapha and Symptoms include joint displacement, lockjaw, result in dual doßha disorders. contraction, humped-back, paralysis of one or both sides of the body; wasting of limbs, marrow and bone disorders, stiffness. Depending upon 460
Section 4: Specific Illnesses and Diseases Chapter 20: Nervous System how deeply they are located will determine how body part. easy or difficult they are to heal. When Váyu is Herbs: Vaµ¤ha lochana, guggul, harítakí, excessed without Pitta or Kapha and is easily reached, ghee and oil (internally and externally) bráhmí, gokßhura, a¤hwagandhá, bibhítakí, soothe the nervous system. Unction quickly nour- bh^i´garáj, balá, cedar, da¤hmúl, t^ikatu, and ishes the dried body tissues, promoting strength, bráhmí ghee are useful. digestion, weight gain, and vital breath. Unction is given until one feels they have had enough, then Foods: Almonds (soaked overnight and peel some time is allowed to pass without taking unc- the skin), sesame tahini, ghee, sesame oil, boiled tion. Unction is again taken, this time, with boiled milk, black dal, whole wheat, and barley are sug- milk, vegetable soup, rice, and milk (cooked with gested. Yogurt/water (lassi) mixed with t^ikatu is ámalakí and black salt), oil enema, snuff, and also useful in soothing nerves. moist foods. When persons are well-saturated, they then begin fomentation. After massage, oil In Belly: Suggestions include ámalakí and fomentation is taken. These measures are said to triphalá (sours and laxatives) mixed with carmi- make even crooked or stiff limbs pliable again. native herbs to reduce malnutrition. This has been seen to occur in persons afflicted with Parkinsonism. Piercing pain, distress, dila- In Anus, Rectum and Colon: Herbs to reverse tion, swelling, seizures, hair standing on end, and excess upward moving air are used. This includes other nerve-caused disorders (e.g., worry-caused hi´g, ajwan, black salt, chitrak, ginger, and black dysuria) are quickly pacified. Unction and suda- pepper. A castor oil purgative and basti are ad- tion are frequently administered. Once bowels are vised. softened from unction, Váyu disorders are quickly resolved. In Stomach: If strong, emesis is first done. Váyu-reducing herbs and foods are used. Chitrak Impurities develop from undigested fat- and kaóuká are also advised. ty, sour, salty, and hot foods, that block Váyu in the channels. If excess impurity ex- Throughout Body: Massage, and non-oil and oil ists and the disorder is not healed by the enemas are used. above therapies, persons should take mild, oil purgatives (e.g., castor oil) to assist the evacu- In Skin: Sudation, massage, bath, and delicious ation process. Warm carminative herbs, such as foods reduce Váyu in the skin. cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and turmer- ic, help dispel gas, improve digestion, and assist In Blood: Cold applications, purgation, and absorption of undigested foods that cause impuri- blood-letting are useful. ties. Weak persons use non-oil enemas and diges- tive herbs, and foods instead of purgatives. In Muscle and Fat (or with Áma): Fomentation, abhyañga, poultice, non-oil enema, milk, ghee, and pacifying therapies are used. In Bone and Marrow: Internal and external unc- tion are needed. Bones may need to be bound. General: Therapies include ghee, sesame oil, In Semen/Ovum: Foods and herbs to promote Váyu-reducing foods and lifestyle, sandalwood semen (e.g., almonds, tahini, boiled milk, ¤ha- aromatherapy oil on the forehead, hot-oil head távarí, a¤hwagandhá) are required. However, if massages (¤hiro dhárá/¤hiro basti); gotu kola oil blocks in the seminal passage occur, purgatives (3 drops) in the nose, then gently massaged; baths are first used to remove the obstruction. Sitting and sprinklings (on the afflicted body part and af- in baths or sprinkled with water— both include ter massage) with decoctions of the herbs listed Váyu-reducing herbs—is advised. below. Poultices made from the herbs and foods listed below, may be wrapped around the affected For Dry Fetus Or Child: Boiled milk with cane sugar are suggested. 461
The Áyurveda Encyclopedia In Urine/Bladder: Diuretics like gokßhura and Váyu/Pitta: Cold and hot measures are alter- steamed vegetables are helpful; urethral douche, nately applied; purgation, and licorice are added oiling the body, poultices with Váyu-reducing to the general therapies listed above. herbs, abhyañga, plasters, and fomentation are advised. Váyu/Kapha: Barley, sudation, strong, dry en- emas, purgation, and mustard oil are used along In Stool: Castor oil purgative, foods, and herbs with Kapha-reducing therapies listed above. to reduce Váyu are used. When this excess is in the head, snuff and herbal smoking is advised. In Heart: Boiled milk with arjuna, chitrak, pippalí, triphalá, and black salt. Tridoßhic: Pitta is pacified before Kapha. When Pitta spreads over the entire body, purgation is In Navel Area: Bilwa, chitrak, and ajamodá are used. When Kapha moves to the stomach, em- advised. esis is advised. Enemas are used after Kapha be- comes liquefied through fomentation, and once For Twisting: Poultices with Váyu-reducing Pitta symptoms appear. When Pitta and Kapha herbs are pressed on the twisted body parts. are removed, yet Váyu remains in the respiratory channels, the above Váyu-reducing therapies are For Contractions: Sesame oil cooked with black used. dal, sesame oil, and rock salt are massaged into the disorder. In Arms and Head: Snuff and ingesting ghee af- Afflictions of the Five Váyus ter meals is helpful. Each of the five Váyus may afflict the other four, Below the Navel: Juice enemas and snuff alle- creating 20 different symptoms. viate these conditions. Herbs include ginger and nirguòæí decoctions. For heart diseases and painful stomach: Ghee with chitrak, t^ikatu, triphalá, and hi´g are ben- For Facial Paralysis: Snuff, head oil mas- eficial. sage (¤hiro dhárá/¤hiro basti—around 16 min- utes), tube fomentation and poultices with ghee, Práò covers Vyána: Symptoms include vacant a¤hwagandhá, ginger, t^ikatu, nirguòæí, guggul, senses, weakened intellect, memory, and strength; kuþki, kút, and bráhmí are used. senselessness, and loss of speaking. Balá oil and amridadya are used. For Paralysis of One Side: Sudation, unction, and purgation are recommended. Vyána covers Práò: Symptoms include excess sweating, skin diseases, numb body parts, hair For Cramps: Hot poultices of boiled rice-milk, standing on end. Castor oil purgatives are ad- or cooked rice-bean, with oil or ghee are advised. vised. For Sciatica: Haóha yoga leg and back stretches Samána covers Práò: Symptoms include ab- (see Chapter 9), and herbs of pippalí, gokßhura, dominal pain, digestive disorder (grahaní), rib, and balá are taken. heart, and stomach pain disorders. Ghee with ap- petizing herbs (e.g., cardamom and cinnamon) For Lock-Jaw: are suggested. Open mouth—foment the jaw, then press jaw with thumbs and lift the chin up to close the Práò covers Samána: Persons experience feel- mouth. ing stunned, stammering, and dumbness. Unction Displaced—adjust to proper placement. is used internally for massage and in snuff; and Stiffness—foment, then bend. enemas are recommended. When acute head- aches, respiratory problems, heart disease, and a 462
Section 4: Specific Illnesses and Diseases Chapter 20: Nervous System dry mouth develop, smoking herb and consoling Udána is led upwards, apán downwards, samána the patient are advised. in the middle, and, vyána in all directions. Pitta covers Práò: Symptoms include fasting, Práò covers Udána: Symptoms include a stiff burning in the body parts or organs, giddiness, head, cold, and mucus, difficult breathing, heart pain, desiring cold things, and vomiting partially disorders, dry mouth, sweating, skin diseases, digested foods. and the organs seem dead. For these conditions, therapies include oily laxatives (e.g., ghee or cas- Kapha covers Práò: Symptoms include spit- tor oil). ting, sneezing, belching, respiratory problems, anorexia, and vomiting. Udána covers Práò: One experiences a loss of immunity, strength, activity, complexion; this Pitta covers Udána: Experiences are, fainting, may be life threatening. Sprinkling with cold wa- burning in the navel and chest areas, exhaustion, ter, consolation, and giving all comforts desired depletion of ojas, sickliness. are the therapies used. Kapha covers Udána: Symptoms include a poor Práò covers Apán: Experiences include vomit- complexion, speech problems, debility, heaviness, ing and difficult breathing. Enemas with raspber- anorexia. ry; carminative herbs with harítakí for vomiting and breathing, respectively, are advised. Pitta covers Samána: Experiences include ex- cess sweating, thirst, burning, fainting, restless, Apán covers Práò: Symptoms include confu- and heat disorders. sion, weakened digestion, diarrhea. Emesis and appetizing and astringent foods and herbs are Kapha covers Samána: Lack of sweat, poor di- best. gestion, hair standing on end, and very cold body limbs can develop. Vyán covers Apána: Persons experience vomit- ing, abdominal distention, tumors, distress, cut- Pitta covers Vyána: Burning throughout the ting pain. Unction is the best remedy. body, exhaustion, restricted movements, pyrexia, and pain can occur. Apán covers Vyána: Experiences include exces- sive stool, urine, and semen. Astringent herbs and Kapha covers Vyána: Symptoms include heavi- foods are required. ness, joint and bone pain; movement is greatly restricted. Samána covers Vyána: Symptoms include faint- ing drowsiness, delirium, illness, poor digestion, Pitta covers Apán: Experiences include deep immunity, and strength. Physical exercise and yellow urine and stool; heat in the anus and geni- light foods are needed. tals; excess menstrual discharge. Udána covers Vyána: Experiences include stiff- Kapha covers Apán: Persons experience stools ness, poor digestion, no sweating, less activity, passed in pieces with áma, mucus, and heavi- inability to keep the eyes opened. Wholesome, ness. moderate-sized, light meals are most useful. Kapha covering Práò and Udána are seri- In the “Chikitsá-sthánam” section of Charak ous conditions, as life depends upon Práò, and Saµhitá, these 12 combinations are listed to il- strength relies on Udána. If improperly analyzed lustrate how the five Váyus combine and what and the situation continues unchecked beyond a therapies are used. Based on this, Charak sug- year, or if improper therapies are used, it will not gests one carefully consider the symptoms and be curable. therapy for the remaining combinations. One needs to remember is that Práò should be care- The results of neglect are heart disorders, ab- fully protected owing to its delicate location. scesses, enlarged spleen, tumors, diarrhea. If all five Váyus are excessed, carminatives are imme- 463
The Áyurveda Encyclopedia diately used with oils (that cleanse the channels cessed Pitta afflicts the heart of a person lacking rather than block them), yet do not aggravate Pitta self-control. and Kapha. Thus one takes sweet, rejuvenative enemas, and oil enemas until strength returns. Kapha: This is caused by overeating and an ex- Then, mild purgatives are given. The best reju- cessive use of oily foods. This aggravated Kapha venatives are ¤hilájit or guggul with boiled milk. afflicts the heart, troubling the mind and memo- Other herbs include ámalakí and harítakí, taken ry. with a wholesome or sattwic diet. Tridoßha: Caused by the excessed condition of Apán covers other Váyus: The only remedy all three doßhas. It is considered serious because is eating appetizing, astringent and carminative the therapies will aggravate one or more of the herbs and foods that cleanse the bowels and dis- doßhas. Therefore, this condition is incurable. pel gas. External: This results from a lack of following Pitta covers Váyus: Herbs and foods that reduce ethics and virtues in this life, or in past lives, caus- both Pitta and Váyu are used. ing problems by the dogs, sages, demons. Kapha covers Váyus: Kapha-reducing and car- Development: The above causes weaken the minative herbs are used. doßhas that afflict the (mind’s) heart when there is less sattwa (purity) in one’s life and mind. The Insanity (Unmáda) disease develops through the mánovaha srota (mental channels) that sends psychic energy to Causes: Charak defines insanity as, “the perver- the mind. sion of the mind, intellect, consciousness, knowl- edge, memory, desire, manners, behavior, and Premonitory Signs: Empty feeling in head, con- conduct.” Five types of insanity exist: Váyu, Pitta, gested eyes, ear noises, excessive heavy breath- Kapha, Tridoßha, and externally caused insanity. ing, excessive salivation, no desire to eat, anorexia It is the main disease of Váyu doßha. The main and indigestion, cardiac spasms, fatigue, fainting, causes of insanity, as we will see, result from per- and anxiety at the wrong time and place. Other sonal misdeeds. When any of the three doßhas signs include hair standing on end continuously, cause insanity, symptoms quickly develop in per- frequent and quickly rising fevers in children that sons with certain conditions. These characteristics produces convulsions, fickle minded-ness, up- include timidness, an agitated (rajasic) or lethar- per body pains, facial paralysis on one half of the gic (tamas) mind, or an imbalance in the physi- face, frequent dreams relating to (1) inauspicious cal doßhas. Other conditions include following an objects that are wandering, moving, or unstable; unwholesome diet or lifestyle, when other health (2) the two hemispheres of the brain; (3) being concerns are present, or if the mind is constantly churned by whirlwinds; and (4) retraction of the afflicted by emotions (e.g., fear, anger, greed). eyes. Unlike other diseases, insanity develops Further characteristics include physical assault, immediately after premonitory symptoms. This trauma, or injury. From these situations the mind includes a variety of mental problems, such as becomes greatly imbalanced. schizophrenia and manic-depression. Váyu: Caused by fasting or an excessive intake Symptoms: of dry or cold foods. This affects the heart and General symptoms include, impatience, fickle- mind with worry, passion, and anger; which re- ness, unsteady vision, a sensation of a vacuum in sults in distortion of memory and perceptions. the heart, loss of peace, memory, and intellect. Pitta: Resulting from indigestion, excess of hot, pungent, sour, or burning foods and liquids, ex- 464
Section 4: Specific Illnesses and Diseases Chapter 20: Nervous System Váyu: Constantly wandering, spasms of the Váyu: First, oil and ghee therapies (sneha) are eyes, eyebrows, lips, shoulders, jaws, forearms, used, if the air passages are not blocked. If they legs; constant incoherent speech, frothing of the are blocked, laxatives are given with the oils and mouth, always smiling, laughing, dancing, sing- ghee to remove the blocks. ing, and playing with musical instruments at the wrong time or place. Other symptoms include Pitta or Kapha: First, oleation and fomentation loudly imitating a flute, conch, or cymbals; rid- therapies are used, then purgatives, followed by ing in dangerous vehicles, desiring excessive jew- emetics, are given. After that, one begins to eat elry and ornaments, longing for foods that can- from thinner and lighter, to thicker and heavier not be obtained; emaciation and rough, reddish foods (according to post pañcha karma food re- skin; reddish, projected eyes; shock, depression, gimes—Chapter 7). Lastly, medicated enemas symptoms worsen by continuing to follow Váyu- with oil or ghee are given, along with doßha evac- increasing life-styles and foods. uation from the head (via the nose—¤hiro vire- chana), using the herbs jaóámáò¤hí and gotu kola Pitta: Irritation and anger, excitement at the (bráhmí). wrong time, place, or for the wrong reasons; caus- ing injury to others; fleeing; need for shade, cold If the doßhas are extremely excessed, these water, and cooling foods; overly daring, intimidat- therapies are taken several times. The result of ing; constant anguish, anger, impatience, passion, these therapies is the cleansing of the heart, head, intolerance; going naked; yellow complexion; fe- senses, gastrointestinal tract. The mind gains alert- rocious eyes that are coppery, green, or yellow. ness; memory and consciousness improve. Head Symptoms worsen by continuing to follow Pitta- evacuation is useful after cleansing if the person’s increasing life-styles and foods. personality still shows signs of imbalance. Kapha: (with Pitta) Staying in one place and Psychology: Therapeutic methods depend upon observing silence; sluggishness in speech and ac- the symptoms. Methods include shouting, giving tivity, occasional movement, discharging saliva gifts, consoling, scaring. In this way, the cause of and nasal excretions, lack of hunger and longing the illness is confronted and dealt with. In serious for solitude, excessive sexual desire, frightening cases, hitting and shocking. are advised. If insan- appearance, aversion to cleanliness, anorexia, de- ity is caused by fear, grief, anger, passion, exhila- pression, greed, always sleepy, whitish nails, fa- ration, jealousy, or greed, approaching person’s cial edema, eyes are white, timid and contain ex- with the opposite emotions will heal them. creta. Symptoms worsen by continuing to follow Kapha-increasing life-styles and foods. Miscellaneous therapies include, abhyañga, ingesting ghee to stimulate the mind, intellect, Tridoßha: The combined imbalance of all three memory, and consciousness and applying thick doßhas causes symptoms of all three doßhas. This ointments. form of insanity is incurable. General herbs to use include, t^ikatu with ghee; Therapies: triphalá, viæa´ga, chandan, mañjißhóhá, arjuna, Oleation, fomentation, emesis, purgation, medi- da¤hmúl, ghee. cated and cleansing enemas, detoxification, fu- migation (burning jaóámáò¤hí and inhaling the External: This is defined as signs and symptoms, smoke), eye wash, aromatherapy, eye salves, different from those described above. These re- medicated snuffs (bráhmí nasya), massage, sprin- sult from inappropriate past and present life deeds kling, unction, tying, confinement, frightening, in- (intellectual blasphemy, or the disregarding of or ducing astonishment and forgetfulness, depletion, malicious dealings with deities, spiritual people, surgery, appropriate doßha foods and life-styles. parents and grandparents, teachers). 465
The Áyurveda Encyclopedia Premonitory external symptoms: Desire to wearing talismans and jewelry, performing auspi- cause injury to deities, cows, holy people, reli- cious rites, religious sacrifices, oblations, taking gious places; anger, delinquent behavior, dislik- vows, fulfilling religious duties, atonement, fast- ing things and habits that reduce one’s ojas, com- ing, receiving blessings, obeisance and pilgrim- plexion, and strength; abuse and incitement by the ages. Following wholesome foods and life-styles gods, spirits, teachers. is also necessary. Ghee may be eaten as often as desired. One should sleep in a draft-free room. External Causes: Deities, preceptors, elders, holy people’s curses; appearance of the spirits Bráhmí Ghee- (4 days worth) of the deceased, demonic possession, or harass- bráhmí—50 gms., £ha´kh pußhpí—50 gms., ment. a¤hwagandhá—50 gms., jaóámáò¤hí—50 gms., Ghee—100 gms. External Symptoms: Superhuman strength, en- Dose: 1 tsp. 2 times daily ergy, enthusiasm, charisma, memory; artistic, ora- Preparation: Make a paste from the herbs and tion, and spiritual abilities in the person. roll into a ball, boil the ghee and add the paste and cook for 1/2 hour, filter. Symptoms occur at the beginning of the above- (May be used for any mental disorders) mentioned deviant actions, when past karmas manifest in this life, when one is home alone or Insanity may also be caused by both internal alone at a crossroad; sexual intercourse at sunset and external factors. Thus, their signs and symp- or on new or full moon days; intercourse during toms will be combined. When curable and incur- menstrual cycles, when reciting scriptures, or able varieties of insanity appear together they all performing rites improperly; breaking one’s vows become incurable. For combinations of curable during battle, when performing destructive deeds, internal and external varieties, a combination of during inauspicious planetary positions, during both therapies is suggested. Blood-letting is also child delivery (for women); contact with unclean advised for insanity. or inauspicious creatures during emesis, purga- tion, and bleeding; when visiting sacred places Signs or Recovery: when unclean and not following the prescribed When one’s clarity and sense of normalcy reap- rules; when eating remnants of meat, honey, oil, pear, it is a sign that the symptoms are removed. candy, and alcohol; when unclothed, visiting cit- ies, towns, gardens, cremation grounds, cross roads, or slaughter houses at night; when insult- ing holy people, teachers, gods; when misinter- preting scriptures, or when beginning any other inauspicious or harmful activity. Epilepsy (Apasmára) External Causative Goals: The causing of insan- Causes: Epilepsy is defined as occasional un- ity has three aims: to inflict injury, to play or to consciousness with the vomiting of froth and ab- offer prayers. Playing or prayer forms of insanity normal body movements related to the distortion can be healed. Inflicting injury includes burning, of memory, intellect, and other mental abilities. drowning, falling, or harming oneself (including suicide). Four types of epilepsy exist: Váyu, Pitta, Kapha, and Tridoßha. Sometimes external situations com- Therapies: bine with internal doßhas to cause this disease, but Herbs, such as musk and frankincense, chanting external events can never be the sole cause. mantras/prayers (e.g., “Aum Namaà £hivaya”), Epilepsy will develop quickly in five instances: (1) when one’s mind has excess rajas and tamas; 466
Section 4: Specific Illnesses and Diseases Chapter 20: Nervous System (2) when the doßhas are excessed and imbalanced; activities, dribbling saliva, white nails, eyes, and (3) by eating unclean and unwholesome foods, complexion; objects appear as white, heavy, and eating mutually contradictory properties, eating oily (before losing consciousness). Symptoms foods contaminated by one having contagious increase from Kapha-increasing foods and life- diseases, or not eating according to one’s doßha; styles. Tridoßha: Symptoms of all three doßhas. (4) not living according to one’s doßha; (5) when This condition is incurable. one is excessively debilitated. If any disease spreads sideways, it will be- These situations aggravate the doßhas that affect come chronic. the mind full of rajas and tamas. The excessed doßhas then spread to the heart (home of the soul Therapies: and sense organs). This aggravates passion, anger, First, oleation and fomentation are applied. fear, greed, attachment, excitement, grief, anxiety, and leads to epilepsy. Premonitory Symptoms: Eyebrow contraction, Internally-Caused: Next, for internally-caused constant, irregular eye movements, hearing non- epilepsy, the appropriate pañcha karma measures existing sounds, excessive discharge of saliva and are used to cleanse and balance the heart, circula- mucus, lack of hunger, anorexia, and indigestion; tory channels, and the mind that contain excess cardiac spasms, lower abdominal distention with doßhas. gurgling sounds, weakness, cracking bone pain and debility, unconsciousness, entering darkness, • Váyu epilepsy requires medicated enemas. fainting and giddiness, frequently dreaming of in- • Pitta calls for purgation. toxication, dancing, murdering, aching, shivering, • Kapha needs emetics. and falling. As with all diseases, the strength of the person afflicted with the illness must be considered. Then Symptoms: foods are given, beginning with light meals, then moving gradually to heavier ones. Váyu: Losing and regaining consciousness rap- Externally-Caused: For epilepsy causes associ- idly, projected eye balls, speaking incoherently, ated with external situations, mantras, prayers, vomiting froth, excessive heaviness and a rigid rituals are suggested. Therapies include musk, neck, bending the head to the side, twisted fin- chanting mantras/prayers (e.g., “Aum Namaà gers, unstableness of arms and legs. Other symp- £hivaya”), wearing talismans and jewelry, per- toms include reddish, dry, and brownish nails, forming auspicious rites, religious sacrifices, ob- eyes, face, and skin; objects appear as unstable, lations, and rites. Other therapies include taking coarse, and dry (before losing consciousness). vows, fulfilling religious duties, atonement, fast- Symptoms increase from Váyu-increasing foods ing, receiving blessings, obeisance, and pilgrim- and life-styles. ages. Following wholesome foods and life-styles is also necessary. Ghee may be taken as often Pitta: Losing and gaining consciousness in- as desired. Sleep should be taken in a draft-free stantly, breathing with snoring sounds, rubbing room. the earth; green, yellow, or coppery nails, eyes, and complexion; objects appear as bleeding, ter- Friends and spiritual leaders are advised to rifying, burning, and angry (before losing con- encourage understanding, patience, memory, and sciousness). Symptoms increase from Pitta-in- meditation. creasing foods and life-styles. Kapha: Slow to regain consciousness, falling, little distortion of 467
The Áyurveda Encyclopedia General Herbal Therapies: After purification, pation, and lung weakness. the person is strengthened, then alleviation thera- Pitta—These persons smoke to feel the fire and pies begin to heal the epilepsy. Ghee mixed with bráhmí, bilwa, gokßhura, triphalá, turmeric, san- power. Symptoms include lung, liver, and blood dalwood, hi´g, rock salt, pippalí, calamus (vachá), infections. and kuþaj are useful. Mustard or sesame oil may also be added to these formulas. Bráhmí ghee is Kapha—These people smoke to feel clearer and also effective. Abhyañga is useful for both inter- stimulated. Symptoms include congestion. nal and external conditions. The above mentioned herbs are burned as aromatherapy (£hatávarí and Alcohol: Increases fire in the body and jaóámáò¤hí are added for inhalation). damages the blood, liver, and causes oth- er Pitta diseases. Because it contains sugar, Medicated oils may also be placed in the alcohol may also be a substitute for sugar addic- nostrils (2 to 3 drops). Along with the above tion (in Kapha and Váyu doßhas mainly). herbs, triphalá, black pepper, ginger, pippalí, jaóámáò¤hí, ¤hatávarí, gotu kola and musta may Drugs: Damage the holy or sattwic mental na- be added to the oil. ture, dulling the mind and nerves. Hallucinogens raise the mental fire (tejas), artificially creating Váyu/Kapha: Guæúchí, calamus, and guggul clearer perception and an experience of higher may be added to bráhmí ghee. consciousness. However, they burn up the life sap (ojas), weakening one’s overall vitality. Sleep- Chronic Epilepsy: If the disease is not healed promoting drugs eventually cause insomnia. through the above remedies, then one takes garlic Smoking marijuana poisons the liver and brain. It with sesame or mustard oil, ¤hatávarí with boiled also causes liver and lung cancer. milk, bráhmí with raw honey, or calamus with raw honey. Addictions Váyu—becomes greatly imbalanced from long- term drug use (prescription, non-prescription, and Symptoms: recreational). Drugs are also usually diuretics, Váyu: All addictions increase Váyu by causing causing constipation, dryness, weakening to the a nervous dependency on them, resulting in a loss kidneys, and reduces life sap (ojas). Stimulants of objectivity. Váyu doßhas can give up addictions overly aggravate Váyu. for a while, but will begin them again or switch to another habit. Pitta—short-term use of stimulants aggravates Pitta: Unless these persons are convinced that Pitta, causing burnout, eye damage. a habit is bad for them, it will be very difficult to give up addictions. Kapha—sedatives overly increase dullness (tamas). All drugs increase dullness, inertia, and poor perception (for all doßhas). Kapha: These persons have the most difficult General Therapies: time giving up their bad habits due to attachment General: Brain tonics help reduce emotional and because their constitution is strong enough to needs for addictive items, tissue-healing herbs for take more abuse. the liver, lungs, brain, and immune system are also needed. Wholesome foods and life-styles accord- Smoking: Can be caused by any of the doßhas. ing to one’s doßha are important. Understanding Váyu—These persons smoke to calm anxiety the nature of dependencies is also needed. Spiri- and worry. Symptoms include dry cough, consti- tual counseling helps to clarify the true nature of 468
Section 4: Specific Illnesses and Diseases Chapter 20: Nervous System a person’s higher Self by transferring unhealthy Alcohol Recovery (Madát-yaya) addictions to addiction to devotion of the Divine. (This is a natural, gradual process that slowly fills Whereas improper use of foods can lead to disease the person with inner worth). or even death, drinking also leads to loss of self- worth, life path, wealth, true pleasure, intelligence, and courage. Smoking: Aßhþáñga H^idayam: Váyu—a¤hwagandhá, bráhmí, milk, almonds, Nidánasthána; Ch.6/ver. 11 sesame seeds, balá, and ¤hatávarí return moisture Properties of Wine and Alcohol: The properties to the lungs. of alcohol are the opposite of life sap (ojas), and Pitta—bráhmí, chamomile, aloe vera gel, bay- similar to poisons. The only difference is that al- berry, and ¤hatávarí are good detoxing and toning cohol is less potent than poison, so it does not kill herbs. the person. Alcohol penetrates deeply into the tis- Kapha—bráhmí, herbal cigarettes, and hot spic- sues. It is dry and causes drying, sourness; spreads es will clear up congestion after a person gives up throughout the body, and is heating. Alcohol loos- smoking. ens bone joints, dries life sap, and causes mental disorders. There are 3 stages to addiction. Alcoholism: (see section specific for alcohol) First stage: Causes a loss of life sap and begins Váyu—bráhmí is best for detoxifying the brain mental imbalances. tissues. Pitta—aloe vera gel is best for balancing the Second stage: Persons are at a critical point in functioning of the liver. Other good liver and choosing harmful activities and enjoying thinking blood herbs include bráhmí, kaóuká, bhúámalakí, about them. They begin to think they will receive and mañjißhþhá. Turmeric and barberry together true happiness from these choices. The mind is clear congested emotions due to liver toxins. primarily in a state of rajas (agitation-/ irritation- Kapha—turmeric and barberry together promoting) and tamas (slowing, clouding, dull- clear congested emotions due to liver toxins. ing) during this stage. Persons may go on wild rampages of harmful activity. This is where vices Drugs: and self-destruction begin. Drinking fresh juice of grapes, dates, or pome- granates is excellent for reducing addiction. Of all thy ways to bring self-destruction, drinking (i.e., alcohol and wine) is the most harmful. Aßhþáñga Generally, the best diet is a Váyu-Pitta-reducing diet. Ghee nourishes the nerves. jaóámáò¤hí is an H^idayam: Nidán; Ch. 6, verse 6 excellent sleep-promoting herb. Yogaraj guggul cleanses the deeper tissues. Bráhmí cleanses hal- Third stage: A person lies lifeless on the ground. lucinogens from the liver and brain. The experience is one of being poisoned. Váyu—a¤hwagandhá rebuilds the nervous Hazards: Loss of understanding right from system. Calamus restores mental faculties and wrong, happiness or unhappiness, beneficial or clears toxins from the liver and brain caused by harmful, suitable or unsuitable. Drinking causes marijuana. delusion, fear, grief, anger, insanity, infatuation, fainting, epilepsy, convulsions, and death. Fur- 469
The Áyurveda Encyclopedia ther, loss of memory, awareness, and common Pitta: Burning sensation, fever, perspiration, sense occur. fainting, giddiness delusion, diarrhea, thirst, diz- ziness, green or reddish-yellow complexion, red- [Strong mental and physical Kapha persons dish eyes and cheeks, quick to anger, argumenta- who come from families that drinks with meals tive. as a daily habit and have strong digestion do not become greatly intoxicated or addicted.] Kapha: Vomiting, excess sleep, skin rashes, an- orexia, nausea, heaviness. One talks less, slurred Causes: speech, worry, laziness and lack of enthusiasm, Váyu: When one is emaciated as a result of sex, yellowish-white complexion, cold feeling. grief, fear, travel, carrying overly heavy objects, eating rough or too little amounts of food, and Tridoßha: Symptoms of all three doßhas. then drinking rough, old wine in large amounts in the night, will disturb sleep. It causes Váyu al- Miscellaneous: Suddenly starting drinking after coholism. stopping for a long time creates two types of dis- Pitta: When one takes large quantities of hot, eases of Váyu origin that are difficult to heal and sour, and sharp wines, while eating hot and sharp one type of Pitta origin. foods, it burns the plasma and lymph, transform- ing their character into alkaline. The result is in- Type 1—expectorating mucus, dry throat, ex- ternal symptoms of burning, fever, thirst, mental cess sleep, irritated by noise, stupor. confusion, giddiness, and narcosis. This leads to Pitta alcoholism Type 2—severe pain in the head and body, heart and throat disorders, delusion, cough, thirst, vom- iting, fevers. Kapha: When one takes large amounts of fresh, Type 3—When one sees blood or develops sweet wine, while eating sweet, oily, and heavy an increased volume of blood, the body becomes foods and takes frequent naps, and no exercise, stiff, eyes are fixed in a gaze, other Pitta symp- Kapha alcoholism is caused. toms occur. Symptoms: Alcoholism leads to fainting, and develops into General: Profound delusion, heart discomfort, a loss of consciousness. The channels of plasma, blood, and consciousness become obstructed. diarrhea, constant thirst, mild or severe fever, loss of taste and appetite, pain in the head, ribs, and Therapies: bones; tremors, twitching, sharp pain in the vital All forms of alcoholism are tridoßha, so one organs and upper back, constricted chest, blind- first attends to the most excessed doßha (although ness, coma, cough, hiccup, swelling, ear, eye, and generally Kapha is the most excessed). If all three mouth disorders; mental disorders and confusion, doßhas are simultaneously imbalanced, one be- unintelligent speech, vomiting, nausea, anorexia, gins healing Kapha, then Pitta, and lastly Váyu. thirst, severe yawning, dizziness, giddiness delu- Váyu: When wine causes the air to block the sion, delirium, hallucination, nightmares. channels, it causes head, bone, and joint pain. To moisten Váyu (i.e., restore balance), Váyu-re- Váyu: Insomnia, hiccup, difficult breathing, ducing foods are taken, followed by salty wine tremors, headache, dreams of wandering, pain in (made from flour) with ámalakí and ginger. This the sides, falling, and talking with demons. Speech improves absorption, sharpness, and hotness. becomes impaired, talking becomes fast, deliri- This dissipates the obstructions, dispels wind, ous, slurred, and unsteady; activity is hindered, and increases appetite. Foods include sours (e.g., complexion becomes dry and blackish-red. 470
Section 4: Specific Illnesses and Diseases Chapter 20: Nervous System pickles, yogurt), barley, wheat, basmati rice, veg- heart and chest, one takes guæúchí, vásák, dúrba, etables, hot baths, ointments, enemas, ghee, milk, musta, ginger, ghee, and sugar cane juice. oil massage. Kapha: If alcoholism is caused by faulty or ex- Váyu/Pitta: When these doßhas are in excess, cess drinking, it is merely healed by moderation. if one feels great thirst, cold grape juice removes First, fasting and emesis are used. Later, herbs are the imbalances. After food is digested, persons used to remove áma, improve appetite, and return drink yogurt/water (lassi) with cane sugar, fol- one’s lightness. lowed by cold water boiled with musta and ámal- akí, to quench thirst. A paste of ámalakí, barley When thirst and fever develop, persons drink flour, and ghee may also be placed in the mouth warm water boiled with balá, or cooled water to quench thirst. boiled with balá, musta, and ginger, to help digest the alcohol excesses. When áma is removed and Pitta: Alcoholism caused by excess intake of appetite returns, cold wine with water, rock salt, sharp, hot, sour, and burning wine is healed by and fresh ginger and honey is taken in modera- cold, sour, grape wine with sugar, pomegranate, tion. and roasted barley flour, having secondary tastes of sweet, pungent, bitter, and astringent. The acid Small portions of food, including barley or and wine combination neutralizes the alkali. Foods wheat with ginger; thin vegetable soup with dried include ghee, cane sugar and ámalakí mixed with radish and pungents like ginger, sours like ámal- basmati rice, peas, green lentils, ámalakí water. akí, and a little ghee. Cold water boiled with musta and ámalakí, To promote appetite, white seedless grape juice, quenches thirst. A paste of ámalakí, barley flour, pomegranate juice, pungent herbs, cardamom, and ghee may also be placed in the mouth for alle- turmeric, and black pepper are mixed with raw viating thirst. Other therapies include, cold drinks honey. and foods, sandalwood water, or drinking cool water from gold, silver, or bronze vessels. Ex- Foods include hot foods and drinks. External ternal therapies include cool rooms and breezes, therapies include hot baths and steam, physical moonlight walks, wearing clothes made of flax, exercise, staying up late and waking early, no and being near lotus and lily flowers. Green gems naps, dry-body massage (promotes strength and (e.g., emerald, jade), pearls, and moonstones fur- complexion), and wearing rough heavy garments. ther reduce Pitta alcoholism. Inhaling warm aromas, such as frankincense and cedar, is also helpful. For burning sensations, sandalwood, lotus, or If the above measures are not effective, wines lily water is sprinkled on the body; cold baths or should not be drunk, but substituted with boiled showers. Further, beautiful scenery, melodious milk with cinnamon, ghee, and honey. Gradually music, jokes, and peaceful conversation balance return to small amounts of wine. this disease. Pitta/Kapha: When both are excessed in the Fainting (Múrchá) stomach, it causes burning and thirst. Grape juice or water is taken, then vomiting is induced to heal When drinking continues and one’s health be- this illness quickly. Whenever the desire for alco- comes more seriously impaired, fainting occurs hol appears, grape juice or water is immediately as a second, more serious stage of this illness. taken. This stimulates the digestion, which in turn digests the undigested food toxins. If there is bleeding cough, pain in the breasts Symptoms: and sides, thirst, burning, excess doßhas in the Váyu: One sees the surrounding space as 471
The Áyurveda Encyclopedia light red, black, or blue; enters darkness or un- Alcohol Factors Considered for consciousness, then shortly regains awareness. Symptoms include heart pain, tremors, dizziness, Avoiding Comas emaciation, and a blackish-red complexion. physical drink season time of Pitta: Surrounding space is red or yellow. The strength potency day person becomes unconscious, then soon after re- gains consciousness. One feels sweat, burning place doßha age quantity sensation, thirst, increased heat, diarrhea, blue or used to yellow feces, reddish or yellow eyes, and an un- drinking steady gaze. As the accumulation of all three doßhas be- Kapha: One’s surrounding awareness is cloudy, come aggravated together and get localized in the resulting in fainting. Persons return to conscious- mind and intellect, speech, body and mind be- ness after a long time. The heart is oppressed and come impaired. Persons become stiff as a log, and one develops increased salivation. The body feels therapy must be given immediately. heavy and restricted, as if walking in soaking wet clothes. Therapies include strong snuff, strong collyri- um, passive snuffing (i.e., someone else blowing Tridoßha: Includes symptoms of all three doßhas snuff into the client’s nose), pricking needles un- and falling to the ground in a faint. der the nails, pulling hairs, touching the person with a hot object, or putting sour and bitter tastes Therapies: in the mouth. Once persons regain consciousness, General: Constant sprinkling or spraying of wa- they are given juices of fresh garlic and lemon, ter over the body, plunging one into a cold bath, with saffron, t^ikatu, and salt. A light, easily di- contact with cold gems and flower garlands, cold gestible meal is also taken. compresses and plasters, cold breeze and fanning, cold-scented drinks (i.e., all cooling measures). Atrophy (Kßhaya) Drákßhá (medicated grape wine), pomegran- ate juice, rice, and barley are suggested foods and Cause: Átreya discusses atrophy (phthisis) af- drinks. Herbs include nágke¤har and black pep- ter epilepsy because after falling during a seizure, per; pippalí and raw honey, harítakí decoction the chest may become injured. Atrophy is listed and ghee, ámalakí and ghee. in this book under nervous system disorders. It is this injury to the chest that can cause atrophy or Comas (Saånyása) emaciation. Internally, it is caused by a deficiency of semen (¤hukra) and life sap (ojas). These de- When drinking continues, one’s health becomes ficiencies result from an overindulgence in sex most seriously impaired. The coma is the third and other life-sap-depleting habits, such as fast- and most dangerous stage of drinking. Therefore, ing, eating dry foods, and eating small quantities before persons decide to drink, they must think of food. Other causes include eating at the wrong about many factors. time or season, eating foods of only one taste (i.e., either sweet, or salty, or sour, or pungent, or bitter, or astringent). Since ojas originates in the heart, injury to the chest will also deplete this life sap. Other causes include excessive straining during sports or work (e.g., lifting weights that are too heavy, singing scriptures at the top of one’s voice, hard jolts to the body). Thus, it is a disease of Váyu doßha. 472
Section 4: Specific Illnesses and Diseases Chapter 20: Nervous System Development and Premonitory Signs: As a result Fever and burning sensation: (same therapies of any of these causes, the chest becomes broken, as chest/rib). cracked, or perforated, the chest thus becomes squashed. This causes emaciation and tremors that Cough, and rib and bone pain: Herbs include slowly lead to the loss of strength, complexion, pippalí, balá, ghee, and raw honey. appetite, and digestive fire (agni). Fever, pain, de- pression, and diarrhea develop (although Pitta is Limping: Ghee with rock salt are suggested. deficient, the suppression of digestive power can Weakness, emaciation, chest injury, insomnia, cause diarrhea). Symptoms include, coughing up excess Váyu: Herbs include turmeric, ¤hatávarí, malodorous, grayish, yellow, and knotty phlegm a¤hwagandhá, balá, ghee, and raw honey or cane with large amounts blood. When semen and ojas sugar. are diminished from the above causes, emaciation also becomes worse. Weight loss, muscle emaciation, no appetite, debility: Therapies include cane sugar, barley, Symptoms: The main signs of chest injury are wheat, raw honey; and afterwards, boiled milk, vomiting, bleeding, and coughing. The main a¤hwagandhá, dúrbá, pippalí, turmeric, and hon- symptoms of semen and ojas deficiency is blood ey, with ghee—to promote blood, tissues, and in the urine, and torso stiffness. muscle development. When the signs and symptoms are mild, when Chest injury with semen loss: £hatávarí, the patient is strong, or if the situation has just a¤hwagandhá, aßhoka, and vásák are suggested. occurred, then the person can be healed. If the Chest injury: Boil bráhmí ghee (page 468) with disease has lasted for more than 1 year, then it equal amounts of milk. As an option, a decoction can only be controlled (i.e., the symptoms can di- of 4 times as much licorice as ghee may be added minish but may return if not careful). Should all to the bráhmí ghee. the signs and symptoms simultaneously present themselves, the disease is incurable. Muscle and Blood Builder: 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. pippalí and the remainder of the teaspoon with raw honey, taken for a week. Then for 2 to 3 days, this mixture is not taken. This regimen is contin- ued as described. Therapy: Fever and cough: Sitopaladi and cane sugar are New injury: Coagulative herbs (astringents) like advised. raspberry and nágke¤har (stop bleeding), taken with boiled milk and raw honey. Emaciated women: Vidárí kand, ámalakí, and sesame seed tahini are advised. Chest and rib or urinary bladder pain: (with Debility and loss of body weight: Therapies poor digestion) Herbs include guggul, vásák, include a¤hwagandhá, ¤hatávarí, ámalakí, ghee, neem, chopchiní, turmeric, with boiled milk, and and wheat flour. raw honey or cane sugar. Urinary bladder, uterus or kidney problems, or Diarrhea: ͤhabgol (and musta if Váyu is not loss of semen or ovum, due to excess sexual indul- excessed) gence: Ghee with a¤hwagandhá, ¤hatávarí, and da¤hmúl are suggested. When persons are strong, Strong digestion: Herbs include coagulatives a medicated enema is also useful. with boiled milk, ghee, and raw honey or cane sugar. Poor digestion: Therapies include barley pow- der, raw honey, and bráhmí ghee. To heal injuries: (same therapies as chest/rib). 473
The Áyurveda Encyclopedia Multiple Sclerosis Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common of In the nerve cell, axons and dendrites (see dia- these demyelinating diseases. However, it is not gram below) are covered by cells that contain my- equally present throughout the world. Although it elin (a fatty substance needed for normal conduc- is prevalent in the U.S., it is not equally distribut- tion of electrical impulses). Certain diseases attack ed within the country. MS is mainly concentrated myelin and the cells that produce it. The cells are in temperate climates (and rarely found in tropi- stripped of myelin or scarring (plaque) is caused. cal or arctic regions). Thus, western science feels This causes the nerves to partially or completely there may be a geographic or climactic influence. stop normal nerve impulse conduction. MS is a disease involving the central nervous sys- tem. From the Áyurvedic standpoint, MS results from Váyu and Pitta excesses, caused by anxiety (Váyu) that leads to hypertension. An inability to withstand heat can develop. Therapies: Herbs that calm and strengthen the nerves and immune system are very useful. A special gold ash preparation (Survana Vasant Malti) work best but is more costly than plain herbs [1 pill daily—in the morning—with 1/2 tsp. raw honey]. Females—After age 50 Pitta is affected. Herbs include jaóámáò¤hí, ¤hatávarí, a¤hwagandhá, yo- garaj guggul, triphalá, bráhmí. The healing pro- cess is longer after age 40. Males—The healing process is longer after age 50. Herbs include vachá, ¤hatávarí, a¤hwagandhá, yogaraj guggul, triphalá, and bráhmí. Other important therapies include ¤hiro dhárá (hot oil head drips) and ¤hiro bhyañga (head- oil baths), as they reduce the excess Váyu in the head, and calm and tone the nerves of the brain and body. Seven or 14 sessions (daily or alternat- ing days), 30 to 45 minutes per session, is advised as an optimum program. Haóha yoga is another effective therapy to slow and reduce the effects of MS. Mind-body coordi- nation, muscle and nerve toning, immune build- ing, and increased flexibility are the benefits of practicing yoga postures. For MS pain, rubbing sesame oil mixed with mahánáráyan oil on the body has been found to be very effective; people report that pain is stopped 474
Section 4: Specific Illnesses and Diseases Chapter 20: Nervous System for several hours at a time. For all nervous system disorders one can follow Following a food plan according to one’s doßha therapies for MS and other previously discussed diseases based on similar symptoms. Kapikachhú is also required. Lifestyle changes may be neces- has been found to be especially effective in Par- sary to reduce undue stress in one’s life. kinson’s research. Nasya with medicated brain oils like ¤had bindu One who is ever mindful of their life purpose are also very helpful—3-6 drops per . and how they are living, Parkinson’s Disease their life will never become sad. Aßhóáñga H^idayam Sú. Ch. 2: ver. 47 This is a condition that develops from a loss of dopamine-producing cells in the substantia nigra area of the basal ganglia. Although it usually af- fects persons after age 50, it sometimes is found in persons as young as age 35. Symptoms: Early stages are slight shaking of hands during fine hand movement. Advanced symptoms in- clude shaking or tremor, stiffness or rigidity, hin- dered walking and stooped posture. Therapies: Generally this is a Váyu or Váyu/Pitta condi- tion (sometimes Váyu/Kapha). All therapies for MS are advised here, especially kapikachhú, ab- hyañga, çhiro dhárá, nasya (e.g., çhad bindu oil), basti, yoga postures Alzheimer’s Disease The exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease is not yet known to Western medicine. However, it is considered a function of the nervous system. Nerve cells in the memory region of the brain are found to be greatly reduced in size and number as compared with those of a healthy person. Tourette’s syndrome, ataxia, aphasia, stuttering, dyslexia, and other diseases of the brain and ner- vous system are modern names for conditions that have not been found in ancient India. Thus, their therapies have not been specifically discussed. 475
The Áyurveda Encyclopedia 476
Section 4: Specific Illnesses and Diseases Chapter 21: Skin Disorders Education is a development from within, not an accretion from without; it comes through the workings of natural instincts and not in response to external force; it is an expansion of natural powers, not an acquisition of information; it is life itself, not a preparation for a future state remote in interests and characteristics from the life of childhood. Rousseau Chapter 21 Skin Disorders Warts, Skin, Leukoderma, Herpes Zoster arts tions of the doßhas and their physical locations. The combinations of doßha and locations cause When Váyu and Kapha combine on the various pains, colors, shapes, and manifesta- skin, they are nail-like in appearance, tions; although they are produced by the same hard, rough, and immovable. When Váyu pre- causes. For example, in some cases the quality dominates, pain and roughness develop. With Pit- of dryness of Váyu is excessed, while at other ta predominance they look blackish-red. Should times the coldness of Váyu is predominant. Kapha predominate they are greasy, knotty, and the same color as the skin. Skin diseases are caused by ingesting mutually Kapha creates soft skin. Pitta causes hard skin. contradictory foods and drinks (e.g., fish [hot] They combine when following incompatible ther- and milk [cold]). They can also be caused by sup- apies (e.g., ingesting milk and salt together), and pressing any of the natural urges, exercise after cause warts. meals or under very hot weather conditions; fast- ing, and eating heavy meals. Other causes include Therapies: drinking cold water just after being in the hot sun, Externally, lemon juice or tea-tree oil applied to fright, raw foods, eating before the last meal is the warts (daily, for several weeks). digested. Improper use of pañcha karma and its Warts are similar to hemorrhoids in their follow-up therapies also can cause skin diseases. development and appearance. Thus, ther- Further causes include excessive eating of yogurt, apies are the same as for hemorrhoids. salt, fish, radish, pastries, sesame seeds, milk and sugar, and sour foods. External causes include, sex after meals, naps, insulting holy people, Gu- rus, and other sinful actions. Obstinate Skin Diseases (Kußhóha) Some say there are many skin disease classifica- Causes: These arise from aggravated Váyu, Pit- tions. Others say 18 (major and minor) skin dis- orders occur. Still others say only 7 types exist. ta, and Kapha that become deranged by four tis- Discussed below, are the 7 major classifications. sues (dhátus): skin-plasma/lymph (rasa/lasíká), muscle (máåsa), and blood (rakta). Then, they Premonitory Signs: Lack of, or excess perspira- spread throughout the body. tion; discoloration, itching, pricking pain, numb- ness, tingling, burning, hair standing on end, rough The beginning stages of skin diseases are or excessively smooth skin, coarseness, heavi- caused only by the four dhátus, but eventually ness, frequent development of edema, spreading spread to the other dhátus. All skin disorders severely, sticky excreta in body orifices, excessive involve the three doßhas and four dhátus (i.e., pain from oozing, wounds are difficult to hear. Af- plasma, lymph, blood, and muscle). The various ter these signs, the individual symptoms appear. types of disorders depend upon the combina- 477
The Áyurveda Encyclopedia Seven Major Skin Diseases centers, smooth, dusty, white and red shaded; (Mahá-Kußhóhas) there are many of them; they are generally found on the chest, and they develop slowly. [Átreya Depending upon the degree of excess, many says it is a major illness, while Sußhrut considers permutations of skin disorders exist. Charak and it a minor one]. Sußhrut have different listings of major and minor skin diseases. This is due to the differences of sur- Dadru (ringworm): Faint blue or coppery, gical and medicinal therapies. Below are 7 major spreading, pimples, itching, circular, slow to de- skin diseases. velop, raised. [Átreya lists as a minor illness. He sees it being caused by all three doßhas. Sußhrut Kaphála: (macula caelulum/azure colored considers it minor, based on surgical measures. spots) due to excess Váyu—dry, reddish, rough, Further, he sees it being caused by Váyu and Ka- and with rough edges; uneven, thin, slightly el- pha]. evated on the edges, excessive numbness, bristly hairs and great pain, burning, pus, black or azure Kákanaka: Átreya says it is due to Tridoßhic in color. They develop instantly, and are difficult symptoms; all forms of skin diseases are experi- to heal. enced, many colors yet mostly red, and cannot be healed due to the vitiation of all three doßhas (all Udumbara: Due to Pitta—coppery, and cov- other forms of disorders are healable). Sußhrut ered with coppery colored hair; thick with copi- says it is due to Pitta, black, sucking or burning ous, thick pus, blood, and oozing; itching, sticky pain, emitting hot fumes, developing pus and oozing, burning, and hot. The manifestation and break rapidly, eventually they develop parasites. ulceration happen instantly. Tridoßhic: Simultaneous aggravation of all three Mandala: Due to Kapha—oily, heavy, swollen, doßhas are caused by smooth and yellow borders; white and red col- ored, and covered with many white hairs; exces- 1) Eating cold and hot foods, and nourishing sive, thick, slimy, white, sticking oozing, itching, and depleting diets. round; they develop slowly, are difficult to heal. [Charak Saåhitá] 2) Excess and long term use of honey, fish, rad- ish while there is indigestion. [Aruna: Caused by Váyu, is light vermilion col- ored, thin, spreading, pricking and piercing pain, 3) Excessive sexual intercourse, exercise, and numb to the touch—listed in Sußhrut Saåhitá as heat exposure before digesting meals. one of the seven instead of Mandala.] 4) Suppressing the urge for emesis. Risyajihva: Due to Váyu/Pitta—rough, reddish 5) Excessive oleation. with dark brown centers and edges; they can be 6) Entering cold water just after developing fear, blue, yellow, and coppery shaded; excessive burn- grief, and exhaustion. ing, cutting, piercing pain and pus, elevated cen- These habits aggravate the doßhas in the four ters and thin edges, rough pimples, elongated and dhátus, and weaken them. Due to this weakening, round, and they develop instantly. the tissues (dhátus) cause skin disorders. Pundaríka: Due to Kapha/Pitta—white and red 11 Minor Symptoms (Kßhudra Kußhóhas) with red edges and covered with red lines and blood vessels, swelling, thick excessive discharge Eka (ichthyosis):Váyu/Kapha—no perspiration, of blood and pus, itching, circular, raised, burn- vast, localized groupings, scaly (like a fish), red- ing, and develop slowly. dish color, not healable.Charma (hypertrophy): Sidhma (macule atrophica): Due to Kapha/ Váyu—rough, reddish, fissured edges with thin 478
Section 4: Specific Illnesses and Diseases Chapter 21: Skin Disorders Váyu/Kapha—thick skin patches (like elephant Visarpa: (discussed in its own section) skin), burning, restlessness, pus, piercing pain, Pitta—pimples in the skin, blood and fat, quick- epileptic fits and loss of consciousness, sucking, ly spread over the entire body, with burning, drawing pain in the palms and soles (with itch- restlessness, pus, piercing pain, and epileptic fits ing). leading to fainting. Parisarpa: Váyu—oozing pimples that slowly Kitima (keloid tumors): Váyu/Kapha—black- spread over the entire body. ish-brown, rough (excessive scar tissue), hard to Kachus (localized eczema): Pámá symptoms the touched. with burning are found only on the legs, hands, and buttocks. Charmandala: Pitta/Kapha—redness, itching, Rakasá (dry erythema/abnormal red skin due to pustules, pain, skin cracks, and tender. irritation and dilation of capillaries): Kapha—dry, non- oozing pimples, intense itching, all over the Pámá (eczema): Pitta/Kapha—great itching, body. white, red, or blackish/brown small pimples, itch- ing, burning secretion. Complications: If skin disorders are not tended to properly, germs in the skin, muscles, blood, Vicarchiká (psoriasis): Kapha—blackish-brown, oozings, and sweat further weaken the doßhas and itching, copious oozing, great pain, dry cracks on cause secondary disorders. hands, feet and body. Váyu: Blackish brown or reddish in color, Vipádiká (lower psoriasis): rough, dry, piercing or pricking pain, emaciation, Váyu/Kapha—cracks in palms and soles, great trembling, hair standing on end, stiffness, numb- pain, burning, found only in the lower extremi- ness, exhaustion, ulcerations, and fissures. ties. Sphota: Pitta/Kapha—thin, white or reddish Pitta: Burning, sweating, tissue softening, pu- pustules. trefaction, oozing, pus, and redness. £határu: Pitta/Kapha—red or blackish-brown ulcerated patches, burning and pain. Kapha: Whiteness, coldness, itching, steadiness, Alasaka: Váyu/Kapha—nodular growth with heaviness, swelling, oiliness, and stickiness. great itching and redness. [All skin diseases (Kußhóhas) are the same Four Dhátus: Germs eat away at the skin, mus- causes as Erysipelas (Visarpa)—an acute dis- cles, blood, plasma, vessels, ligaments, bones, ease of the subcutaneous tissues—only Koßhóhá and cartilage, causing oozings, ulcerated organs, develops gradually, while Visarpa spreads very thirst, fever, diarrhea, burning, weakness, anorex- quickly.] ia, and indigestion. [Parisarpa, Visarpa, Kachus, Rakasá, Mahá Kußhóham, Sthulárußhka, Kilásam; Sußhrut sees The simultaneous excesses of all three doßhas these as minor diseases.] are the cause of all forms of skin diseases, yet Sthulárußhka: Kapha—pimples around the some doßhas are predominant for each variety. joints that are very thick at their base, difficult to The predominant doßha and the causes of the heal, with hard pimples on the surface. illness are learned from the specific form of the Mahá-kußhtham: Kapha—contracted skin disease, and vice versa. Thus, after analyzing the bursts, causing piercing pain, loss of sensation signs and symptoms, the doßha that is predomi- and general lassitude. nant is balanced first, then the other doßhas are healed later. 479
The Áyurveda Encyclopedia Rough, dry, hard, scaly skin, coarse, hair stand- and are not stuck or rooted in the upper part of the ing on edge, brown and red, itching, constipation, body. Emetics include kuþaj, neem, and honey. distention, increased by wind and dryness; oils are soothing. Therapies include Váyu-reducing When the doßhas are greatly excessed, these foods, liquids and life-styles; castor oil laxatives, preliminary therapies are repeated several times, enemas, sesame oil massage, triphalá, guggul, always monitoring one’s health and strength, as myrrh, ¤hatávarí, and cardamom. these therapies may weaken the patient and their Váyu. Pitta Symptoms and Therapies: Burning, red- ness, oozing, malodor, stickiness of limbs, swell- Secondary Therapies ing, infection, fever, irritability; increased by Only after the doßhas are significantly reduced, heat; oil make them worse. Therapies include Pit- oleation therapy is given repeatedly. After the ta-reducing foods, drinks, and lifestyle; avoiding therapies, one begins a food diet that balances nightshades (eggplants, peppers, tomatoes, pota- their doßhas. [Beginning with thin gruel-thick toes, peaches, strawberries), sour, and hot things. gruel, vegetable soup, etc. as describe in the pa- Helpful therapies include coconut juice, aloe vera ñcha karma section of Chapter 7. Thin gruel is gel, cilantro juice, gotu kola, and bh^i´garáj oils taken for three meals, then for two meals, and (internally and externally); herbs include gotu then for one meal.] Medicated enemas are also kola, burdock, red clover, chiráyatá, aloe, rhu- taken, using barley and musta ,with ghee or oil barb, mañjißhþhá, bhúámalakí. (e.g., sesame, canola, sunflower). If excess Váyu still exists even after these thera- Kapha Symptoms and Therapies: White com- pies, food plan, and enema, one takes an anuvása- plexion, cold, localized, raised, heavy, sticky, na medicated enema of oil mixed with harítakí unsightly, oozing, congestion, edema, itching; in- and triphalá (depending upon their strength). creased by damp and cold weather, and oil. Ther- Inhalation Therapy: Rock salt, black pepper, apies include Kapha-reducing foods, drinks, and pippalí, jaóámáò¤hí, and gotu kola are inhaled to lifestyle; avoiding heavy, greasy, and oily foods heal skin diseases (and parasitic infections and including cheese and yogurt, and external oil mas- Kapha diseases). sage. Helpful herbs include burdock, gokßhura, Medicated ghee may be used internally and guggul, triphalá, mañjißhþhá, ginger, bhúámalakí, externally to heal skin conditions of the three and gotu kola. doßhas. Pitta-, blood-, and Kapha-caused imbal- ances use bitter and astringent herbs (e.g., musta, Therapies: raspberry). It is said that the skin condition is not able to be Kapha skin disorders are healed with chitrak, healed if, tridoßhic symptoms exist; symptoms de- guæúchí, cardamom, chakramarda, sarsaparilla, velop in weak persons, while experiencing great kuähtha, and punarnavá. thirst and burning sensations, poor digestion, and if the patches have bugs in them. Preliminary Therapies Váyu—triphalá, musta, raspberry, mañjißhþhá, Váyu: First—enema using oils and ghee. gokßhura, chitrak, neem, guæúchí, cardamom, pu- narnavá, and calamus are useful for Váyu. Pitta: First—purgation (and blood-letting) us- Váyu or Kapha: Decoctions of t^ikatu, triphalá, ing triphalá. cane sugar, and sesame oil, taken for 1 month. Herbs are mixed in equal amounts. These decoc- Kapha: First—emetic therapy when the doßhas tions are also applied externally to the skin. Mas- are excessed in the heart or center of the body, saging the decoctions (mixed with oil) into the 480
Section 4: Specific Illnesses and Diseases Chapter 21: Skin Disorders skin also promotes healing. Váyu uses sesame oil, therapies are used. The skin is washed with neem Pitta, sunflower or coconut oil, Kapha uses mus- and viæa´ga as antiseptic wash externally to pre- tard or canola oil. Sesame or mustard oil decoc- vent and check the infection, and then pañcha tions of bákuchí, t^ikatu, kuþaj, and viæa´ga are karma internally to help recovery. massaged into the skin quickly prevents the burst- ing of mandala skin diseases and itching. Dadru (ringworm): Plaster of mustard seeds, turmeric, t^ikatu with yogurt/water (lassi) is ap- Sidhma and newly occurring likása leuko- plied to area affected by the ringworm. Internally, derma can be healed. Herbs include bákuchí, the same herbs, and, viæa´ga, neem, sarsaparilla, kuähtha, and mañjißhþhá. chakramarda, khadir, chitrak, ginger, triphalá may be taken. In viral ringworm, baths with a de- Charma, eka, kitima and alasaka skin disorders coction of the above herbs are also useful. are healed with medicated ghee and oil, boiled with mañjißhþhá, sarsaparilla, an equal quantity Minor Skin Disorders: of milk, and bees’ wax. Drinking tepid decoctions of turmeric, ma- Mandala herbs include viæa´ga, vachá, neem, ñjißhþhá, gokßhura, triphalá, bh^i´garáj, gotu arka, chitrak, musta, kuþaj, castor oil, and t^ikatu. kola, sandalwood, aloe vera gel. Blisters can de- The skin is massaged with sesame or mustard velop on the patches. After blisters burst, a plaster oil. of turmeric, mañjißhþhá, viæa´ga, neem, harítakí, and aloe vera gel is applied to the skin. Váyu and Kapha skin disorders are healed with chitrak, guæúchí, cardamom, and punarnavá, Foods are light and wholesome, mixed with ghee, mixed with 1/4 yogurt and 3/4 water. Vatsaka, and bitter leafy vegetables are advised. Herbs in- sandalwood/barley decoction for Pitta. Pitta and clude t^ikatu and kaißhore guggul. One simultane- Kapha herbs include sandalwood, kußhtha, and ously avoids eating sour foods, milk, yogurt, meat, kuþki. cane, sugar and sesame seeds (except as remedies). Baths (i.e., soaking the problem skin) with herbs Váyu/Pitta: Herbs include khair, sandalwood, of musta and triphalá are useful as well. neem, red sandalwood, triphalá, and ghee. For burning patches, or skin diseases in general, Leukoderma (£hvitra) massage with a triphalá decoction mixed with Pigmentation Loss/White Skin Patches sandalwood, pippalí, turmeric, musta, red sandal- wood, khair, turmeric, licorice, vatsaka, and ghee. Causes: It arises from the aggravation of Váyu, These herbs are also for Charmadala skin disor- Pitta, Kapha, blood, muscle, and fat. Váyu forms der, stickiness, scaling, shedding skin disjointing, are easiest to heal, becoming increasingly more or burning, along with water dripped on the skin. difficult to subdue, with fat as the most difficult to heal. Generally it is caused by excesses of all Sidhma: Herbs include kuþaj bark, nilotpalam, three doßhas, but sometimes it is caused by one or and satyanasha (yellow thistle). two doßhas. When skin disorders are predominantly blood Symptoms: and Pitta excessed, vásák, bákuchí, guæúchí, ma- Váyu: Dry, light red skin ñjißhþhá, neem, and ghee are used. Pitta: Coppery red, burning, and destroys the hair in the infected area. When disjointedness, serious exudation, or maggots appear, persons take a neem and viæa´ga bath. After the blood is purified, pañcha karma 481
The Áyurveda Encyclopedia Kapha: White, thick, heavy, and itching skin. foods, disrespect and lying to people and deities. Blood, Muscle, Fat: These tissues have the same respective colors as the three doßhas. Recovery: Symptoms of black hairs, mild skin Minor Ailments (Kßhudrarogam) patches; not joined, of recent onset, and not caused by burning fire can be healed. The remainder, in- Causes: There are 44 forms of minor ailments. cluding those found on the genitals, palms, soles, All the different writers give different views of and lips are difficult or unable to be healed. this section. Thus, there is no generally accepted number of ailments or sequence of the diseases. Therapies: Symptoms: First oleation, then elimination therapies (de- Pimples and Swellings pending on one’s strength) are suggested. Af- Ajagalliká: Váyu and Kapha—pimples that are terwards, bákuchí, mañjißhþhá, neem, turmeric, shiny, knotty, painless, the same color as the sur- ámalakí, makoy, khadir, bilwa bark, and chakra- rounding skin, and is found in infants. marda are taken with cane sugar. Following this, Yává-prakßhyá: Váyu and Kapha—barley-corn- persons sun bathe to cause purgation. This will shaped eruptions, very hard, thick in the middle, cause thirst, for that thin gruel (peyá) is taken for knotty, and confined to the flesh. 3 days. Andhálaji: Váyu and Kapha—pimples are All therapies for skin disorders, are also useful dense, raised, slender at the top, in circular patch- for internal and external Leukoderma disorders es, exuding some pus. (including bákuchí and rock salt for external ap- Vivritá: Pitta—pimples are the color of ripe plication). figs; flat at the top, in circular patches, unbearable burning. Pustule eruptions: When they occur on the Leu- Kachapiká: Váyu and Kapha—pimples are in koderma are first punctured to remove the fluids. groups of five or six; hard, raised, nodular, tortoise For the next 15 mornings one takes bákuchí, ma- shell-shaped, appearing anywhere on the body. ñjißhþhá, neem, turmeric, ámalakí, makoy, khadir, Valmíka: All three doßhas—knotty, undurated, bilwa bark, and chakramarda. pimples that slowly develop on the soles and palm joints, neck and above the collar bone, ant hill Varieties: The three forms, dáruna, cháruna, shaped. and kilása, are all caused by the simultaneous ex- Indra-vriddhá: Váyu and Pitta—pimples on the cess of all three doßhas. When it is found in the skin, arranged circularly. blood, it is red; in the muscle it is coppery; and if Panasika: Kapha and Váyu—very painful pim- in the fat, it is white. When it is in the blood, it is ples/ abscess in or around the ears. the mildest form; in the fat, it is the most serious. Páßhána-Garddabha (mumps): Kapha and Váyu—slightly painful, non shifting, hard swell- This disorder cannot be healed if patches are ing, appearing on the jawbone joint. overlapping, several patches exist, red hair grows Jála-Garddabha: Pitta—thin, superficial swell- through the patches, and diseases last for several ing, shifts position, fever, burning, but does not years. form pus. [Some say when they are circular, Leukoderma is caused by sinful acts in this life or previous lives; eating mutually contradictory 482
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